Book Review: The Inmate

As I approached the final chapters of “The Inmate,” I couldn’t shake the feeling that it might end up as a run-of-the-mill read, perhaps deserving of just a 3-star rating. Sure, there were plenty of twists and turns along the way, but as someone who’s devoured their fair share of thrillers, I found myself piecing together the mystery a bit too easily. It felt like I’d seen this plot before, and I was worried that the book wouldn’t leave a lasting impression.

However, all that changed with the epilogue. It was like a bolt from the blue, completely unexpected and utterly mind-blowing. Instead of a neat and tidy conclusion, the epilogue left me pondering long after I turned the final page. Suddenly, my rating soared to a solid 4 stars, and I found myself reassessing the entire journey I’d just taken with the characters.

This was my first foray into Freida McFadden’s writing, and I must say, it won’t be my last. Her style is refreshingly straightforward and easy to follow, even amidst the tangled web of mystery she weaves. The characters felt like real people, with dialogue that rang true and internal monologues that offered intriguing glimpses into their minds. While I didn’t always agree with Brooke’s decisions, seeing the world through her eyes added depth to the story and helped me understand her motivations.

“The Inmate” has opened up a whole new world of suspense and thriller novels for me. I’m eager to dive into more books in this genre, eager to unravel the mysteries alongside the characters and get lost in the suspense once again.

Book Review: The Idea of You

While some books effortlessly draw you into the magnetic chemistry between characters from the get-go, others leave you scratching your head 200 pages in, wondering if the author even considered believability in their character relationships. Unfortunately, Solene and Hayes of “The Idea of You” fall into the latter category.

I initially picked up this book after catching wind of its upcoming movie adaptation featuring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine. Excitement bubbled within me, convinced that if a movie was in the works, the book must be something special. I was mistaken.

Despite my near-constant temptation to mark it as Did Not Finish (DNF), I persevered, driven by a commitment to give every book a fair chance. However, with each passing chapter, the urge to delete the digital copy from my e-reader grew stronger.

My curiosity about the forthcoming movie adaptation was another motivator to trudge through the pages. Yet, as I delved deeper into the story, my enthusiasm waned. The plot felt shallow, saturated with gratuitous sex talk and lacking any semblance of genuine chemistry between characters. The narrative unfolded predictably, populated by immature characters—particularly Solene, who, despite being a 40-year-old mother, displayed a distressing lack of responsibility and self-awareness.

Solene’s portrayal as an irresponsible, self-centered, and sex-driven mother was deeply unsettling. While her prowess as an art gallery owner was commendable, her inability to make sound decisions and set a positive example for her 13-year-old daughter was disappointing. Witnessing her spiral into self-destructive behavior was both cringe-worthy and disheartening.

Furthermore, the author’s choice to subdivide chapters into smaller segments to denote the passage of time felt disjointed and disrupted the flow of the narrative. Rather than enhancing the storytelling, it detracted from the overall reading experience.

As for Hayes, the supposed hero of the tale, his character fell flat for me. He came across as a thinly veiled fan fiction creation lacking depth and substance.

Despite these criticisms, I will concede that the ending offered a slight glimmer of redemption. However, it wasn’t enough to salvage “The Idea of You” from earning a one-star rating in my book.

Book Review: The Seven Year Slip

Buckle up, bookworms, because “The Seven Year Slip” is an absolute gem that deserves all the stars in the galaxy—and then some! Seriously, if I could sprinkle extra stars on this masterpiece, I totally would. It’s that good!

So, picture this: Clementine inherits this magical apartment from her late aunt, and let me tell you, her heart is in pieces when she moves in. She’s drowning in sorrow, missing her aunt like crazy, and feeling utterly lost. But then, out of the blue, she meets Iwan—cue the swoons! But here’s the twist: Iwan is living seven years in the past, and Clementine is seven years ahead. Talk about a head-spinning situation!

But wait, it gets even better. These two start sharing dinners and swapping stories, and suddenly Clementine’s questioning everything about her life. Is she truly happy? What’s she really chasing after? And could Iwan possibly be the one to mend her broken heart?

Let me just say, I was completely hooked from page one. Ashley Poston weaves this seamless, captivating storyline that had me on the edge of my seat until the very end. And oh boy, the chemistry between Clementine and Iwan? Off the charts! I mean, it’s like fireworks every time they’re together.

But it’s not all butterflies and rainbows. Poston dives deep into themes of grief and loneliness, painting a vivid picture of what it’s like to lose someone you love unexpectedly. And through Clementine’s journey, we learn that finding happiness sometimes means stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing the unknown.

Speaking of characters, Clementine stole my heart with her resilience and compassion, while Iwan’s dreamy, adventurous spirit had me rooting for him from the get-go. Together, they remind us that chasing our dreams sometimes means embracing change and letting ourselves grow along the way.

Trust me, I could rave about this book all day, but I’ll leave you with this: “The Seven Year Slip” is a magical journey that’ll whisk you away to the fourth floor of Monroe in New York City—and trust me, you won’t want to leave. So grab a copy, settle in, and prepare to be enchanted!