Beth > Recent Status Updates

I’m trying to stick with this book because the author writes so well, but I hate nearly every character. No one seems to respect boundaries or consent, and Olive does little more than react to everyone else. Ugh.

Don’t mind me, just yelling into the ether.

I’m putting this up on GR as in progress solely so I can bitch-vent about how much I hate both Kevin and Ben in this book, especially Kevin. I read a review as I was deciding whether to DNF where someone says Josie is horrible but she loves both guys. This person is clearly a potential nemesis, and I hope we never meet.

Shouting into the ether that this woman is a fucking mess who seeks punishment.

I might not make it through this due to sheer frustration. I really hate manipulative, gaslighting characters, particularly when the MC is hyperaware of such things but somehow doesn't notice? And lol fatphobic joking is not a red flag, cool cool.

I'm trying harder than should be necessary to get into this book. The audiobook is a no go, as the narrator just sounds annoyed, which is somewhat in keeping with the MC. Her character seems more contradictory than complex, shifting with the wind from relatively quiet and nice (maybe a little afraid) to meanly assertive and vindictive.

I am very irritated by the men in this story.

I am finally reading this, and I am mostly enjoying it. Buuuuut the men are all infuriating, over be a assholes, and nearly everyone treats the main character abominably, with the exception of her sister. I know men infantilized and fetishized women, but good God, I don't need a whole book about it. I hope this aspect gets better.

I like this overall, but I have two grievances so far.
1. "Male nurse." Really? Why. No.
2. Anyone who knocks back a shot of high quality bourbon like it's cheap tequila does not deserve to drink high quality bourbon.

I might be legit done with this series. This is devolving into deliberate obtuseness for the sake of mystery, and it's getting repetitive. Did this series get a new editor? Or lose a good one?

Making a note this time when I'm absolutely sure I've figured out the murderer.

This damn book is changing my work life.

I'm having a hard time getting through this one. I may have to go back and reread, and I also think I missed some short stories. It just seems like a giant dump of characters and random interactions right now, with lots of references to events I've missed or forgotten. I just read that it's essentially a part 1, so I might drop it and come back to it after the next one comes out.

Left off here because my time ran out a week ago, waiting impatiently for my paper copy.

I am learning a lot, seeing my perspective on a lot of events shift and understanding of what I've always considered standards that we celebrate in America turned completely on its ear. This should be required reading for every white American.

DNF for now. Kiddo is not interested yet, and I'm bored so not willing to push. We might come back in a few months.

I'm so bored. I might have to DNF, which I hate because I like the idea. The execution so far is not great.

I want to set this aside for a while because it is getting a little boring and stressful. It was the wrong book to pick up after The Eyre Affair. I need something soothing and predictable!

This book made me accidentally write some poetry in Keep, for the first time in over a year. What is this magic?

Scratch the earlier comment. This book is brilliant.

I'm trying to stay awake. This woman is in her own head so much I'm claustrophobic, which I don't need what with all the social distancing.

This book is officially and literally changing my work life. I wish I had read it four years ago.

I'm out.

The woman just said she wanted the guy to use her like a finger puppet. I might not make it through this one. I really wanted to like it because of the diversity, but this is just not. my. thing.

I needed some mindless reading after such a heavy read, and it. Is. That. Not hating it. Can't decide if I'm losing brain cells or giving them a rest.

I'm trying really hard go get into this. I want to like it.

This has been a fun read so far, a realllllly slow relationship situation where they hadn't even fully acknowledged interest. I like the main female character, the male character is a douche with apparent depths. Then. It just suddenly went from, wow I like this woman against my usual interests for over half the book to, NO ONE SHALL EVER COMPARE TO HER. In literally a few pages. Hanging in there....

Really good so far. The world building is fast but very well crafted, and the characterizations are on point. Refreshing read after a DNF of what I thought was a sure thing.

Probably the best of this series. Passive audio reading ftw.