So I did a post on 15 of the books I have read that were the best and so decided to do another post, this time 5 worst books I have read in 2023!
It Starts with Us – Colleen Hoover
Why? I felt like this was more a fan fiction than the actual story.
2. The Blackout – Sarah Goodwin
Why? To be fair, the plot sounded great but overall, the story felt meh.
3. Icebreaker – Hannah Grace
Why? If you like Fifty Shades Grey then this book would be OK although there’s no BDSM in here. I felt it dragged on and on–if it were short, I think I would have liked the book more.
4. Too Late – Colleen Hoover
Why? Another Colleen Hoover book! I think I liked the villain Asa more than the protagonists here. I didn’t like the characters at all.
5. Zero Days – Ruth Ware
Why? I am a huge fan of Ruth Ware but unfortunately, her latest book was a disappointment.
What are your worst books you read this year? Leave a comment below!
In this riveting thriller from a new master of suspense, a young dancer’s homecoming is marred by a grisly discovery—and the realization that nothing in her past may be quite what she believed.
When Esmé Foster left the Boston suburbs to become a professional ballerina, the future shimmered with promise. Eleven years later, her career has been derailed by an injury, and Esme knows it’s time to come back to Graybridge to help her brother care for their ailing father. But her return coincides with an unthinkable crime. Kara Cunningham, one of Esme’s high school friends, is found dead in the woods behind the Fosters’ house.
Esmé is shocked and grieving, but also uneasy. In her dreams, she still sees the man who showed up at the scene of the car accident that killed her mother—and told Esmé he was going to kill her too. Family and friends insisted the figure was a product of Esmé’s imagination, that she was concussed after the crash. But she and Kara looked alike, sharing the same petite build, the same hair color. Could Kara’s murder have been a case of mistaken identity?
Detective Rita Myers is familiar with close-knit communities like Graybridge, where, beneath the friendliness, there are whispers and secrets. The town has seen other tragedies too, including the long-ago drowning of a young girl in a pond, deep in the woods. Even within the once-close circle of friends that included Kara and Esmé, Rita discerns a ripple of mistrust.
Day by day, Esmé discovers more about the place she left behind—and the friends and family she thought she knew. Soon, shining a light into the darkness to learn what really happened the night Kara died is the only way she can bring the nightmare to an end . . .
This is the second book of the Detective Rita Myers although you can read this book as a standalone.
The story starts with the discovery of a body of a girl near former dancer Esme’s house. Esme’s father is suffering from dementia and it was her brother Bryce who discovers the body. The body was none other than Kara who is one of Esme’s friends. Esme meanwhile returns back home after an injury causes her to halt her dancing career. Rita Myers must find the murderer before he attacks again.
This was actually a good thriller. The story is told in the perspectives of Esme and Rita and I felt this was more like a police procedural than a thriller. I like the disturbing and creepy way Mr. York photographs the girls including Esme and Kara which gave a creepy setting to the story. The suspects list seemed to be clear but the reveal of the actual killer was quiet unexpected which actually increased my rating to this book. This wasn’t really fast paced but nonetheless there were some twists and turns and overall, this book worth four stars in my opinion.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
Terri Parlato was born and raised in upstate New York. She currently lives in a small north Georgia town with her husband and their dog Lucy.
Date published:- will be published on 11th January 2024
No. of pages:- 290 pages
Genre:- Romance
Rating:-
Plot:- 4/5
Writing:- 4/5
Overall rating:- 4/5
When a local meadow is turned into a bee-friendly allotment, will romance also blossom? New teacher Ceri has enough on her plate trying to keep her class in line and get them excited for her Foxmore wildlife efforts. Then she meets the mysterious – and occasionally grumpy – Damon, whose orchard she’d like to explore.
Rock star Damon has moved to Foxmore to escape the hounding paparazzi following the tragic death of his bandmate. Relocating to somewhere quiet and isolated is just what he needs to recover. Ceri is a ray of sunshine, but he’s not ready to share his dark secrets with her.
As love blooms, will Damon’s hidden past get in the way of their happiness? And can he bring himself to give up his music for love?
A gorgeously tender, uplifting romance in the heart of Wales, perfect for readers of Mandy Baggot, Suzanne Snow and Sue Moorcroft.
This was a really cute romantic novel that I actually enjoyed reading and an unexpected romance between a rockstar and a teacher.
Damon is a rockstar of a popular band. When one of his bandmates died in a car accident in Berlin, Damon, wanted to get away from the hounding press and moved to Foxmore for some quiet time. He meets Ceri, who is a teacher who is struggling to keep the class in line. A romance blossoms develops Ceri and Damon and it is the story after that.
I always enjoyed reading Lilac Mills’ stories as it kind of gives a burst of sunshine. This book is no exception. Damon and Ceri seemed to have chemistry between them which made them fall in love with each other. The way Ceri helps Damon with weeding his grandmother’s garden and how slowly they started falling in love was too cute. The scenic countryside descriptions was beautifully descriptive and makes the reader feel like they are actually in the countryside with Damon and Ceri. Overall I actually enjoyed reading this romance novel and worth four stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
Shelby Tebow is the first to go missing. Not long after, Meredith Dickey and her six-year-old daughter, Delilah, vanish just blocks away from where Shelby was last seen, striking fear into their once-peaceful community. Are these incidents connected? After an elusive search that yields more questions than answers, the case eventually goes cold.
Now, 11 years later, Delilah shockingly returns. Everyone wants to know what happened to her, but no one is prepared for what they’ll find….
In this smart and chilling thriller, master of suspense and New York Times best-selling author Mary Kubica takes domestic secrets to a whole new level, showing that some people will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.
This book is really an unputdownable thriller!
First, Shelby Tebrow goes missing when she went jogging at night. Then a few days later, Meredith and her daughter Delilah goes missing. The news shocked the entire town when Shelby’s body was discovered and Meredith and Delilah’s bodies aren’t recovered.
Eleven years later, Delilah returns back and no one is prepared to find what happened after all these years…
The story is told from Kate’s, Meredith and present day Leo’s POV. All the POVs interconnect with each other. Kate and her wife Bea are helping Meredith’s husband Josh with the search of Meredith which I found interesting, Meredith her POV is based on the days before her disappearance and Leo’s who describe his new relationship with his sister Delilah. There were some questions, some twists and turns and you never know what the whole connection between these three main characters is. The ending is where it was the most unexpected ending and I was actually shocked at te ending. The whole story was brilliantly written and the author did a good job of drawing the reader into the story and making the reader feel like they are part of the story.
This is an engrossing and unputdownable thriller and I recommend this thriller to anyone who hasn’t read it yet–worth five stars in my opinion!
Mary Kubica is a New York Times bestselling author of suspense thrillers including The Good Girl, The Other Mrs., and Local Woman Missing. Her books have been translated into over thirty languages and have sold over two million copies worldwide. She’s been described as “a helluva storyteller” (Kirkus) and “a writer of vice-like control” (Chicago Tribune), and her novels have been praised as “hypnotic” (People) and “thrilling and illuminating” (L.A. Times). She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and children.
A one-of-a-kind Christmas market offers holiday magic in the new romance from the author of The Kindred Spirits Supper Club.
With a name like Astra Noel Snow, holiday spirit isn’t just a seasonal specialty–it’s a way of life. But after a stinging divorce, Astra’s yearly trip to the Milwaukee Christmas market takes on a whole new meaning. She’s ready to eat, drink, and be merry, especially with the handsome stranger who saves the best kringle for her at his family bakery.
For Jack Clausen, the Julemarked with its snowy lights and charming shops stays the same, while the world outside the joyful street changes, magically leaping from one December to the next every four weeks. He’s never minded living this charmed existence until Astra shows him the life he’s been missing outside of the festive red brick alley.
After a swoon-worthy series of dates, some Yuletide magic, and the unexpected glow of new love, Astra and Jack must decide whether this relationship can weather all seasons, or if what they’re feeling is as ephemeral as marshmallows in a mug of hot cocoa.
It’s almost Christmas time!! This is the third book review I am doing for the holiday season and my target is to read at least five Christmas themed books. So far, I think I am doing great.
This time, Astra Noel Snow doesn’t seem to be much lucky compared to her friends. She was divorced and had to share the custody of their dog with her ex-husband Trent. Then every year, during the Christmas month, at the Christmas market, Astra goes to the Christmas market every year where she meets Jack–who owns a family run bakery.
Jack Julemarked bakery only comes to Milwaukee during the Christmas and then will be in another different location. The moment he set his eyes on Astra, he falls in love with her. The story is how Astra and Jack fall in love with each other while Jack must tell the truth about the Yuletide.
This was a heartwarming and cozy Christmas read. I loved reading the book, even the small snippets about Jack meeting Astra every year. I also liked the writing and how the author managed to make the reader feel like they are also a part of the story. I actually did not expect to be this good so let’s say, I enjoyed this book very much. I liked the close friendship between Astra and her friends and the way relationship blossomed between Jack and Astra. Reading this book will make you feel like you are also in Milwaukee celebrating Christmas.
Overall this book is worth four stars!
Amy Reichert honed her writing and editing skills as a technical writer (which is exactly as exciting as it sounds). As a member of the local library board, she loves helping readers find new books to love. She’s a life-long Wisconsin resident with (allegedly) a very noticeable accent, a patient husband, and two too-smart-for-their-own-good kids. When time allows, she loves to read, collect more cookbooks than she could possibly use
IT WAS A STORY THAT CASSIE BOWMAN COULDN’T RESIST. LORE RIVERA LOVED TWO MEN. UNTIL ONE OF THEM SHOT THE OTHER…
Lore Rivera was married to two men at once, until on a baking hot day in 1986, one of them found out and shot the other. A secret double life, a tragic murder. That’s the story the world knows.
It’s not the story that fascinates Cassie Bowman.
Carrying the weight of her own family tragedy, true-crime writer Cassie wants to know more about the mysterious woman at the heart of it all, Lore. How did one woman fall in love with two different men? How did she balance the love and the lies?
To her surprise, Cassie finds that Lore is willing to talk. To finally tell her heartbreaking story – about how a dance became an affair; how a marriage became a murder.
As the two women grow closer, Cassie finds she can’t help but confess her own darkest secrets. But when she slowly starts to realise that there might be more to the night of the murder than anyone has realised, can either woman face up to the thing they’ve been hiding from: the truth?
The plot of this story sounds interesting and intriguing.
Present Day, Cassie Bowman is a struggling true crime author and she decided to do a book about a woman named Lore who was married to two men back in the 1980’s. Then one day during the confrontation, one husband died and the other husband is sent to prison for the murder. Now Cassie, dealing with her own personal demons works with Lore to discover what really happened that night.
The story divides between the present day which is set in 2017 and past which is basically told from the point of view of Lore. The present day shift between Cassie’s and Lore’s POV. There were some tense moments, I got to know a little about the Mexican culture in general and I did enjoy the story. The writing was great and I do like how Cassie and Lore worked together. I also liked the backstory of Cassie’s background and her strained relationship with her father.
The only problem I had with the book is, I feel this book was way too long and that there were some unnecessary parts in the books that are not really relevant in the book. Nonetheless, I actually enjoyed this thriller and worth four stars in my opinion.
It’s nearly the end of the year! This year, I am going to take each genre and list out my favorite books of that genre. By the end of the year, I am going to tell you about my favorite books of the year but let’s just divide them into genres so I can tell you my favorite books of each genre.
I will also be doing a blog post on top 5 worst books of the year I have read as well.
Thriller or psychological thriller is actually my favorite genre of all time. This list includes both ARC books I have read as well as the other books I read.
So let’s start with the list!
The Housemaid – Frieda McFadden
This is my all time favorite thriller! This kept me at the edge of my seat and the ending really had me blown away! The second book of the housemaid series wasn’t as good as this one but this is one of my favorite books of the year!
2. All Good People Here – Ashley Flowers
This was actually good in my opinion although the ending was a bit vague but I enjoyed it over all. Not really the top books of the year I read but definitely one of the top thrillers I have read.
3. Good Girl Bad Blood – Holly Jackson
I loved Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and I equally loved the second book of the series which is Good Girl Bad Blood. I feel this is better than the first book and I simply couldn’t put the book down.
4. Hidden Pictures – Jason Rekulak
This book really creeped me out! Not to mention the pictures as well. I couldn’t actually put this book and read within 48 hours–it was really good! If you are in a reading slump, then I recommend this book!
5. Bright Young Women – Jessica Knoll
I was lucky enough to get the ARC copy of this book and I actually liked this book! Based on the real-life serial killer, this book based on two women who were affected by this serial killer and how they work together to bring justice to their friends. I feel this is better than Luckiest Girl Alive.
6. Don’t Let Her Stay – Nicola Sanders
This was actually an intense book–couldn’t really put the book down and I like the bit of a cliffhanger at the end.
7. The Quiet Tenant – Clemence Michalon
This was also one of my favorite thrillers I have read–based on a victim who is being held by a serial killer.
8. Out of Sight – Ruhi Chaundary
This is the sixth book of Mackenzi Price series and I loved this book and I couldn’t put this book down, meaning this is one of my favorite thrillers I have read.
9. Husband and Wife – K.L. Slater
Another unputdownable thriller by K.L.Slater. This was so good and I was immediately surprised by the unexpected twist at the end.
10. The Kind Worth Killing – Peter Swanson
I heard so many positive raving reviews on this one and this literally kept me on the edge! Another book to read if you are on a reading slump.
Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Yarros
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.
But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.
With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.
She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.
Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.
Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die
Congratulations to Rebecca Yarros for winning Goodreads Choice award for The Fourth Wing! This book is one of the most anticipated books and is a huge trend in Booktoks, Amazon and Instagram, topping the bestselling charts. I have always wanted to get my hands on this book as I wanted to read this most hyped book of the century.
And finally I got the copy and started reading.
This whole review is based on my own opinion and different people have different tastes so I just you guys to know, I personally think this book doesn’t deserve that much of hype.
Violet Sorrengail is supposed to be a Scribe but at the last minute, her mother puts her to Riders Quadrant, where you need to go through hell in order to survive the Riders Quadrant. At the quadrant, Violet meets Xaden Riorsen, whose father was killed by Violet’s mother and who holds a grudge against the Sorrengail family. Xaden would seek justice for his father by killing Violet. The motto of Basgiath War College–graduate or die.
I think the concept of the whole story was fascinating–a school where they train you to fight in the war, train you to ride on the dragons. But I didn’t find nothing special about this book. One minute Xaden wans to kill Violet, the next day, they were lovers. There were spicy scenes towards the end of the book.
In the beginning, I found this book really boring. I nearly DNFed the book but then I don’t usually do DNF so I kept reading the book, hoping that there must be something in the book that would stand out, that might be the reason why this book worth so much hype. But I couldn’t find anything that is worth. Towards the middle of the book, I think the story got a little better even though it was a slow burn to me at first. The cliffhanger at the end was great and that actually made me want to read the next installment of the series Iron Flame.
Does this book worth the hype? I don’t think so. Over the years, some of the Booktoks that are showing off the books that are much hyped in my opinion is not deserved to be hyped. And the Fourth Wing is such a book. All in all, the book worth four stars.
Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and coffee addict. She is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels, including Fourth Wing, The Last Letter and The Things We Leave Unfinished. She’s also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward. Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for over twenty years. A mother of six, she is currently surviving the teenage years with all four of her hockey-playing sons.
Want to know about Rebecca’s next release? Check her out online at www.rebeccayarros.com.
Lovelight Farms is a wholesome rom-com featuring a handsome, freckled data analyst, a messy, optimistic Christmas tree farm owner, and a small town with the best hazelnut lattes on the east coast. This sweet and steamy romance is a holiday happily ever after for fans of Tessa Bailey and Hannah Grace from TikTok favourite author, B. K. Borison.
In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a child, Stella enters a contest with insta-famous influencer, Evelyn St. James. With the added publicity and the huge cash prize, she might just be able to save the farm from its financial woes. There’s just one problem. To make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on the application and said that she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only. . .there is no boyfriend.
Enter best friend Luka Peters. He just came home for some hot chocolate, and somehow got a farm and a serious relationship in the process.
Lovelight Farms is the first book in a seasonally-inspired quartet of cosy romances following four friends finding love in the small town of Inglewild.
If you are into cozy small town romance with a holiday setting, then this book is for you. This is the first book of the Lovelight series, featuring Stella who is the owner of the Christmas farm.
Stella is in heaps of debt. Someone or something is destroying her farm, causing her to lose so much, her shipments stopped arriving and now Stella feels that if she doesn’t solve her debt issue quickly, she might had to close down the farm. A social media influencer, Evelyn is hosting a competition for the couples owning small businesses, with a cash prize. Stella wants to enter into the competition but she is single. So she enlist her long time best friend Luka to be her fake boyfriend and while they pretend they were dating, they realize that they were actually having feeling for each other.
This book was a TikTok sensation and I might say, I actually enjoyed this book. Reading this book actually gave me a vibe that I am also in a small town in Delaware and that the holiday season in the air made this whole book great. I really like the chemistry between Stella and Luka and really wanted the two to date. I also like the dynamic of friendship between Stella, Layla and Beckett. The writing was really great and the whole story is written in Stella’s POV although there is a bonus chapter in the end where you can get to read one chapter in Luka’s POV as well. The characters in this book were all likable in my opinion and I honestly thought the whole story line is really adorable. Overall this book worth four stars!
Tropical Girl Reads 