JJ

Not Good

Revisado: 04-19-25

When I started this book I was planning to write a review recommending you read a physical copy rather than the Audible version because the puzzles and riddles do not translate well when you can't see them. BUT having finished the book I wouldn't recommend you read it in either format. It just wasn't good. The story is slow. The characters are crotchety and self centered. But the ending was terrible. SPOILERS AHEAD: Clayton is a grown man raised by intelligent people but seems to have none of his own. Then his father turns out to be someone who has lived in the house with him his entire life and the explanation for that was that he didn't want others to miss out on parenting. So he just didn't claim his son. What? Oh, and he treats him poorly because he looks just like his other son who he did love. This guy's IS also your son. This makes no sense. Just to make it even less appealing most of the characters are promiscuous or gay. Neither of which was necessary for the story so it felt out of place. If you like puzzles, spend your money on a puzzle and not this book.

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Good story, Poor narration

Revisado: 04-10-25

This was my 2nd book by Dugoni. I enjoy his laid back story telling and character development. I just wish he wouldn't insist to narrating his own books. The presentation reminds me of a middle school drama production with kids reading their lines. It's just distracting. I liked the story and was rooting for the main character. Overall it was enjoyable.

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Gut Wrenching

Revisado: 03-15-25

This story was gut wrenching. The author actually did a great job with the writing and I enjoyed the book. But I would be hesitant to tell someone else to read it just because of how heartbreaking it is. From the first page to the last page you just ache for the characters. I did not feel it was a legal thriller though. The trial was a background setting, not the focus of the story. The twists were haunting but not entirely unpredictable. So if you love getting drawn in and taken along for all of the emotions, this one is for you.

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Boring "Thriller"?

Revisado: 03-09-25

It's a typical story tmeplate. Murder in a small community. Everybody has a secret they are trying to keep. But it is unraveled so slowly I found myself bored. The narrator on Audible sounds like a nasaly teenager.

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Leaps of Logic

Revisado: 03-02-25

I kept seeing this recommended as a five star read. Ugh. Sci fi, and Blake Crouch in particular, are just not my thing. The leaps of logic required throughout the story were frustrating. Putting the characters into an impossible situation and then just manufacturing an equally impossible but magically effective solution is not a great story for me. Long winded contrived explanations using scientific jargon are used to make the reader accept that the premise is smart, it is not. There is too much that doesn't make sense.
The last third of the book improved a lot. I did not anticipate how it was going to play out and it did spark my interest. But getting to that part was painful.

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13 Going on 30

Revisado: 02-24-25

The main character is offputting, immature and overly dramatic. She is supposed to be in her 30s but her thoughts and actions feel like they were written by a teenager. "I was so embarrassed my vagina hurt." Seriously?
No one in your grown up professional office cares that your friend died in high school. The idea that it was some dark secret she didn't want discovered makes no sense. She is a dishonest & manipulative and I spent most of the book hoping she would be discovered and fired. Dumb story with unlikable character.

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Fun Behind the Scenes but Lacking

Revisado: 12-21-24

It's hard to rate memoirs because it feels like you are rating the person's life story. If you are a Harry Potter fan this one has a lot of fun behind the scenes insight to the actors and films that we love. I did enjoy it. Tom Felton opens himself up with some less than flattering admissions, but it feels like he is only telling a fraction of the story. He's not obligated to disclose his personal business, but if you are writing a memoir, isn't that what you chose to do? He repeatedly sets the tone that his life was fairly normal with acting as a side hobby. Then he goes out with friends a few times and suddenly his people feel it necessary to do a full fledged intervention? It seems that there is an uglier truth he is not including that would lead to that. He repeatedly disrespects boundaries and rules but tries to play it off as charming. It just feels a bit inauthentic. The book feels a bit like a passive apology to people in his life. He writes tributes to many people who helped him along the way whom he has let down and disregarded. It was cool to hear him narrate his story, it just felt a bit like a yearbook signing. Have a great summer! Never change!

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Heartfelt Story

Revisado: 12-18-24

This book, a story about a little boy going through the 5th grade, made me cry twice! I didn't know anything about it going in and had no expectations. It feels like it was written for a younger audience. The story is told from the perspective of the kids and is narrated by kids. But I would recommend it to anyone wanting a sweet, honest story. It applies to all ages and the universal needs of connection, insecurities and kindness. I loved it!

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Legit Twists

Revisado: 12-08-24

This story had at least 3 twists I did not see coming which is impressive since most stories, even good ones, are pretty predictable. I did feel like it was a little short, or not fully developed, but I hadn't realized it was part of a series which probably explains that since you get more character development over time. Overall I really liked it.
As far as the narration, not terrible, but the female narrator has a distracting habit of pronouncing the "H" in words (whhhy, whhhat, whhhile). And the male narrator sounds like he's ready to deliver the Dirty Harry line with every breath "Go ahead, make my day." I was glad his chapters were minimal.

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Funny but Flat

Revisado: 11-25-24

The beginning chapters made me laugh multiple times. Vera's character is funny but annoying. She has no boundaries and the situations used to communicate that were clever.
But overall the story was formulaic and the characters seemed to melt into each other. Each person was an insecure apologetic pushover until someone told them to start valuing themselves.
The toddler was not believable for her age and the conclusion was also so farfetched it felt disappointing after the long buildup.
But the food. The food descriptions will make you crave dishes you have never even heard of before. So now I will go eat some Chinese food.

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