michelles_book_nook's reviews
252 reviews

Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score

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emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

⚠️ CW: parental death, child abuse and domestic violence ⚠️ This book may just be my favourite read so far this year, and for someone who doesn't usually read romance that says a lot! Lucian Rollins is a lean, mean, vengeance-seeking mogul. Determined to erase his abusive father's mark on his family name, he spends every waking minute pulling strings and building his empire. The more money and power he gains, the safer he feels. Except when it comes to one feisty small-town librarian. Although they are bonded by a dark secret from the past and their current mutual disdain, Sloane Walton only trusts Lucian as far as she can throw him. Until their bickering accidentally turns to foreplay, fanning flames of desire that can't be put out. But with Sloane eager to start a family and Lucian refusing to even consider the idea, these enemies to lovers are stuck at an impasse. And when Lucian learns the hard way that leaving Sloane is impossible, he vows to do everything he can to keep her safe at whatever the cost. Wow this book had me stuck on such an emotional rollercoaster but I loved every second. I can't even put into words what this story meant to me but it hit so many personal notes and gave me all the feels. As with the other books in this series I expected the super spicy scenes, and trust me I was absolutely loved them (and suit daddy 🥵), but I didn't expect the incredibly deep storyline and those that have read this will know what I mean when I say that. All I can say is that Lucy Score perfected this so well and rounded off the knockemout series in the most impeccable way in my opinion. Overall, if you haven't already guessed, I highly recommend this one!
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Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

⚠️ CW: murder and domestic abuse ⚠️ If you're looking for a funny, witty and cosy murder mystery then this one is for you! This book follows 60 year old self proclaimed tea expert Vera Wong who enjoys nothing more than sipping a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy 'dective' work on the Internet (AKA checking up on her son to see if he's dating anybody yet). But when Vera wakes up one morning to find a dead man in the middle of her tea shop, it's going to take more than a strong Longjing to fix things. Knowing she'll do a better job than the police possibly could, because nobody sniffs out a wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands, Vera decides it's down to her to catch the killer. This book was so, so good and had me hooked to the point where I stayed up all night just to finish reading it and it was so worth it with such great twist at the end. Vera is an absolute ICON! She is the cutest, funniest and wittiest mother and grandmother figure that you could possibly want in your life. And the story isn't just about a cosy murder mystery investigation, it also has some great messages behind the storyline too. Oh and just a warning, this book is filled with amazing descriptions of delicious food so probably not the best idea to read this on an empty stomach 😅 Overall, I highly recommend this read and cannot wait to read more by Jesse Sutanto in the future.
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Top Girl by Danielle Marin

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challenging emotional medium-paced

5.0

⚠️ CW: drug abuse, grooming, gang violence, assault, rape, sexual assault and addiction ⚠️ This book is a gripping and enlightening memoir about gang violence and county lines drug culture. Danielle had a safe and happy childhood growing up in West London and looked to have a bright future, but this soon faded as she turned her back on academics for a life of crime and gangs. After being betrayed by the police following a brutal gang rape, she finds protection under the wing of organised criminals and falls in love with the local 'top boy'. However, her allegiances bring terror to her doorstep when gun-toting rivals target her flat and the authorities answer by taking her baby into care. As a heartbroken young woman she then spirals deeper into gang life and becomes a key player in a sprawling county lines operation. The money and glamour of her hedonistic lifestyle are the envy of all of her friends, but the good times and the money only mask the grim realities of her life when she is arrested and her life hits a turning point where she starts to question everything that has ever happened in her life. This book left me feeling so many emotions but I just could not stop reading and it has taken me nearly a week to just process Danielle's story before I could even write my review. It is a truly shocking read but so powerful and I really think her story will stick with me for a long time. Overall, I highly recommend this book and even though it is a very difficult and intense read I think everyone should read it (CW's taken into consideration).
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Goldilocks by L.R. Lam

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adventurous challenging hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

⚠️ CW: miscarriage, misogyny, sexism, genocide, murder, parental death and brief mentions of infertility, racism and homophobia ⚠️ If you're looking for a dystopian read that will give you that eerily accurate feeling that makes you question if one day the plot could become a reality then you need to read this book! As restrictions on the freedoms of women on Earth begin to increase Valerie Black spearheads the first all-female mission to Cavendish, a planet in the Goldilocks Zone where the conditions are just right for human habitation, as it is humanity's last hope at a chance of survival. And with Naomi, Valerie's surrogate daughter and the ships botanist, having waited her whole life to step out of Valerie's shadow and really make a difference they are ready to make Cavendish humanity's new home. But when things start going wrong on the ship, Naomi starts to suspect that someone on board is concealing a terrible secret and realises time for life on Earth may be running out faster than they feared. This book was such a rollercoaster and gives off eerie mixed vibes of Interstellar and The Handmaid's Tale but in the most perfect balance. It's definitely one of those reads that is hard to review without giving spoilers but it is so good and I don't think I've read anything quite like it before. It equally had me wanting to speed through it at the same time as needing to put it down a few times just to process what I'd read. Overall, I highly recommend this book and truly wish I'd picked it from my tbr sooner.
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The Close by Jane Casey

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

⚠️ CW: murder, domestic violence, abuse of vulnerable people, trafficking, paedophilia and rape ⚠️ If you're looking for a read that is intensely gripping from start to finish then you need to read this book! This book follows DS Maeve Kerrigan as she goes undercover with DI Josh Derwent as a couple who are dog sitting for a friend in a seemingly picture perfect suburban street of well-kept houses with pristine lawns, chatty neighbours and playing children. But there are dark secrets behind the neat doors and hidden dangers that include a ruthless criminal who will stop at nothing, and it is up to Maeve and Josh to uncover the truth. And as they try to gather the evidence they need while the lines between professional and personal continue to blur they have no idea of the danger they face because someone on Jellicoe Close has murder on their mind. This book had me absolutely hooked from the very first chapter and even when I wasn't reading it I couldn't stop thinking about it. It is a very dark and intense storyline that will leave you feeling so uneasy and like you're being watched but it's dangerously addictive and you won't be able to put it down. The only reason I dropped it down a star is because it is part of a crime fiction series and while you can read it as a standalone book I think I would have preferred to read it in series order so that I knew more about Maeve's back story. Overall, I highly recommend this book if you're a dark crime fiction fan! 
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The Game by Scott Kershaw

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

⚠️ CW: kidnapping, domestic abuse, animal abuse, misogyny, addiction, miscarriage, stillbirth, violence, homophobia, racism, rape, suicide, murder and brief mentions of child abuse ⚠️ If you like the movies Taken and Saw, and you want a dark, tense and twisty read then this one is for you! Across the globe five strangers receive a horrifying message from an unknown number. The people they love the most are in danger and to save them they must play The Game. A sinister contest that only has a single rule, there can only be one winner. If you lose then your loved one will die. But what is The Game, and why have they been chosen? There's only one thing each of them knows for sure - they'll do anything to win. This book had me so incredibly gripped that I didn't want it to end. It kept me guessing until the very last page and the huge twist left me gobsmacked. I absolutely loved the alternating pov's between all of the characters that gave you small breadcrumbs of their individual stories to follow and piece together throughout, and their flawed personalities and back stories made it all the more riveting! The only reason I dropped it down a star is because I felt that the climax of the story was a bit rushed and I wanted a bit more from the 'post game' part. Overall, I highly recommend this book but please check the content warnings before going into it because it is quite a bit more graphic than your standard thriller in my opinion.
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Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

⚠️ CW: drug use, transphobia, dead naming, bullying, homophobia and classism ⚠️ If you're looking for an emotional but beautiful read that will have you sobbing one minute and getting lost in pure queer joy and love the next then this book is for you! Felix Love has never been in love. He desperately wants to know what it's like and why it seems so easy for everyone else but him. What's worse is that even though he is proud of his identity he also secretly fears that he's one marginalisation too many as a black, queer and transgender person in NYC just looking for his own happily ever after. Until one day an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages after publicly posting his dead name and photos of him before he transitioned. And this is when Felix decides to come up with a plan for revenge, however what he didn't count on was his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi-love triangle. But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine how he feels about himself. This book is absolute perfection and I could rave about it all day. It's the perfect story of identity, falling in love and recognising your worth but it is written in a way that is so real and raw. My favourite thing is how it shows that journey's of self-discovery aren't linear and even though it can be messy it doesn't make it any less beautiful. Overall, this book really got me in the feels and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
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Insomnia by Sarah Pinborough

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

⚠️ CW: mental health, childhood trauma and murder ⚠️ If you want a read that will blow your mind and keep you up at night then you need to read this book! From the outside, Emma has the dream life. A loving husband, a beautiful house and two gorgeous children. But something is keeping Emma awake, scratching at her sanity at 1am. She's tried so hard to bury the past to protect her family, but witching hour loves a secret. And Emma's is the stuff of nightmares. This book was such a gripping and heart pounding read that I just couldn't put down and ended up binging. It is one of those reads that keeps you guessing until the very end when it reaches a jaw dropping climax! All of the characters start off being a bit unlikeable but then as you get to know them and all of the aspects of past and present you realise that you can't trust anyone and constantly second guess yourself at the end of every chapter. Overall, I highly recommend this read if you're a thriller lover.
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Make Me Clean by Tina Baker

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challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

⚠️ CW: murder, parental death, domestic abuse, workplace bullying, homophobia, racism, drug abuse and mentions of miscarriage ⚠️ If you're looking for a dark, witty and gripping read then this book is definitely for you! This book follows Maria, a good woman and a good cleaner. She cleans for Elsie, a humorous elderly lady with Dementia, who has a terribly abusive husband. She also cleans for Brian, a sweet but work stressed gentleman, who has a horribly harassing boss. And, she cleans for Mr Balogan, a mysterious man of few words, who has a pair of awfully offensive neighbours. But if you're thinking of hiring her, you should probably know that Maria might have killed the terrible husband, the horrible boss and the awful neighbours. She may have also murdered the man she loved. She didn't set out to kill anyone but her clients hired her to clean up their lives, and she takes her job incredibly seriously. The trouble is, murder can't be washed out. You can only sweep it under the carpet and pray no one looks too closely. This book had me absolutely hooked from the very beginning and if I could I would have read in it one sitting! It starts off with Maria being this slightly strange but witty woman who you get a sense has been through a lot in life and as the story unfolds it truly shows how much she has experienced in her life and how much trauma she holds as she fights through everyday just wanting to be loved and wanting to have somewhere to call home. By the end of the book I really had a soft spot for her and the ending was just a perfect little twist. It is a slightly slower paced read but I loved it so much. Overall, I highly recommend this read!
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This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron

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adventurous challenging emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

⚠️ CW: parental death ⚠️ Sometimes sequels turn out to be disappointments but this was so beautifully captivating and gave the best end to this amazing story! This book picks up right where we left off in This Poison Heart and follows Bri as she embarks on a journey to rescue her mother, but to do that she must do the impossible and find the last fragment of the Absyrtus Heart. However, nothing about her journey will be simple as she has to turn to her blood relatives to learn the secrets of their powers and take her rightful place among their ancient lineage. And with dark forces at play and deadly botanicals creeping up of her she must harness her power to change the most dangerous of fates ahead of her. I honestly could not put this book down! It was just so good. It continues with its intoxicating mix of fantasy and greek mythology that adds such an interesting magical realism twist as well as being filled with great bipoc and LGBTQIA+ representation. I did find this one to be a bit slower than the first though which is why I dropped it down a star but with so much going on it definitely felt necessary in parts. Overall, I highly recommend this series if you're a YA fantasy lover!
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