MK READS A LOT

In a perfect world, I would have time to do a long review of every single book I read each month. Unfortunately, I’m just not able to do that. But hey, that’s what monthly wrap-ups are for! At the beginning of each month, I’m going to do mini-reviews for each book I read the month before, starting with July. So, without further ado, let’s begin.

Fellside, M. R. Carey

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Spoiler-free Summary

After being convicted of a crime, Jess Moulson is sent to Fellside, a maximum security prison in Yorkshire, England. Once she’s there, she starts having strange dreams, as do some of the other inmates. When Jess starts hearing the voice of a young boy asking for her help, events unfold that affect several people throughout the prison in ways none of them saw coming.

Spoiler-free Review

I really liked the concept for Fellside. I appreciated that it was different from other supernatural thrillers I’ve read, but I just didn’t like the book overall. There were too many characters for one thing. While all the characters had a purpose within the plot, it was hard to keep track of everyone, and I don’t normally have that problem with books.

Also, Fellside was just so long. It felt like it took forever to get to events that I was already pretty sure were going to happen. I liked the beginning but started getting bored about halfway through, wishing the book would end. From what I’ve seen in the GoodReads review section, I’m not alone in thinking this. There was enough there to keep me from giving up on finishing the book, so at least that’s something.

I don’t dislike M. R. Carey’s other work, though. I loved Girl with all the Gifts, and I do plan to continue reading Carey’s other books in the future.

The Wife Between Us, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

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Spoiler-free Summary

After finding out her ex-husband is marrying another woman, Vanessa must decide if and how she should intervene.

Spoiler-free Review

To be honest, I found The Wife Between Us boring. There are quite a few twists in this story, but every twist after the first felt contrived. It seemed like the authors were primarily concerned with breaking the record for most twists in a thriller. Apart from the twists, the story just wasn’t very interesting.

However, this book did keep me company while I lay in bed recovering from COVID, and it was the perfect read at the time. I didn’t have to think too much about it and the chapters were short and easy to get through. If you’re looking for a quick, easy, domestic thriller, then The Wife Between Us might be for you. It just wasn’t for me.

Cinder, Marissa Meyer

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Spoiler-free Summary

In this Science Fiction retelling of Cinderella, Cinder is a cyborg mechanic who not only catches the attention of charming Prince Kai but also manages to find herself in the middle of the struggle for the survival of her planet.

Spoiler-free Review

I hoped to like this book more than I did. The combination of fairy tale retelling and Science Fiction was so intriguing to me, and I think if I read this when it came out in 2012 I would have loved it. Reading it for the first time in 2022, I thought it was just okay.

My favorite part was how, as a person with an invisible disability, I found Cinder’s experiences really relatable. She often worries what people will think about her if they find out she’s a cyborg, and I’ve had similar concerns related to my disability. My least favorite part was how this book ended, which, unfortunately, I can’t talk about without spoiling things. I know there are three other books after Cinder, but at this point, I don’t plan to continue in the series. Warning: there’s a lot of talk of plague and illness in this book.

A Good Marriage, Kimberly McCreight

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Spoiler-free Summary

Lizzie Kitsakis is working late at New York City law firm Young & Crane when she receives a call from an old friend. Zach Grayson needs Lizzie’s help–his wife, Amanda, is dead and the police think he may be the reason why. To help her friend, Lizzie must delve further into his and Amanda’s seemingly perfect marriage. What she discovers may not only affect Zach but may also have Lizzie questioning how much she knows about her own husband, Sam.

Spoiler-free Review

I enjoyed reading this book for the most part. I was genuinely surprised by a lot of the reveals, and they felt organic to the plot and not shoehorned in. The story is told from two different POVs and also reveals necessary information through court transcripts and emails, which makes for a nice change of pace every now and then.

The reason I gave A Good Marriage 3.5 stars and not more is a matter of personal preference. I feel like I’ve read similar stories too many times for this one to really make much of an impact on me. Plus, I wasn’t as interested in the close examination of marriage that features so heavily in this book. I knew this would be a major part of the book (I mean, it’s right in the title), but I didn’t know if it was something about which I’d enjoy reading. I’m glad I read it, though, because now I know it’s not my thing.

Lock Every Door, Riley Sager

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Spoiler-free Summary

After falling on hard times, Jules Larsen is only too happy to accept the position of apartment sitter at the famous Bartholomew building in New York City. Even though she receives a long list of rules she must follow, and she finds the secretive tenants a bit unusual, Jules is determined to stay in the building she has dreamed of living in since she was a little girl. She also needs the money they promise to pay her, and the longer she’s there the more money she’ll make.

Things start to change when another sitter in the building goes missing, and Jules finds a series of clues indicating that The Bartholomew might not be as wonderful as it seems.

Spoiler-free Review

Though this book probably isn’t going to make my favorites list this year, I really enjoyed it. It’s probably one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a while. Sager does a good job of blending modern characters with a Gothic setting. The pacing might be a bit slow for some people, but I didn’t mind it.

I talk a bit more about my thoughts on Lock Every Door in a full review, which you can find here.

Our Wives Under the Sea, Julia Armfield

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Spoiler-free Summary

After being gone for months on an oceanic research mission, Miri’s wife, Leah, has finally returned. However, it quickly becomes clear that something happened to Leah on the mission, and it’s affecting her still, in ways neither she nor Miri can do anything to stop.

Spoiler-free Review

I loved this book! It’s become one of my favorite reads of the year, and I’m so glad I found out about it. Our Wives Under the Sea is my kind of horror story. There are elements of horror, but ultimately the story is about love and loss. It is beautifully written–almost poetic at times, which contrasts nicely with frequently visceral and terrifying descriptions of events.

Full review coming soon.