Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall ★★★★☆

Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book you meant to read in 2018

Brief synopsis: Our Kind of Cruelty follows Mike, a successful investor, who is so in love with Verity (V), he can hardly stand it. Yet they've hardly spoken in months and he recently received an invitation to her wedding to another man. But it doesn't phase Mike, because it's all a part of this game they play - The Crave. V flirts with another man until Mike comes to save her, then they sleuth away to have sex. This is just a more advanced version of The Crave, of course, and V is playing really hard to get.

Overall thoughts: This book was a lot slower than I expected. It's a psychological thriller, so I was expecting a page-turner, and this wasn't that. But by the time the novel wrapped up, I was pretty invested and it was a total mind-boggler. I really enjoyed the feminist undertones in the novel, and was surprised by them. I guess, overall, this book was full of surprises, but is definitely a slow burn. See the full review here.





Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid ★★★★★

Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book you think should be turned into a movie

Brief synopsis: Daisy Jones & the Six is a novel disguised as a fictional rock band's oral history and tell-all. The book is written in interview-style depicting the rise and fall of Daisy Jones and the Six. Daisy Jones began as a separate entity than the Six, then their musical worlds collided, then fell apart.

Overall thoughts: There was so much hype surrounding this book and I was worried that, because of that, I would be disappointed. But I was not. This book reads like a VH1 Behind the Scenes episode and the character investment gets so deep. I very much enjoyed this novel. TJR can do no wrong. See the full review here.






You Have Me to Love* by Jaap Robben ★★☆☆☆

Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book with "love" in the title

Brief synopsis: The novel starts with Mikael, a 9 year-old who's father disappears into the water one day when they're both out on the beach. After weeks of searching, his father is nowhere to be found. Mikael holds an incredible guilt, which forces him both further away from his mother while forcing him closer to her, as well.

Overall thoughts: The writing in this novel was so beautiful and poetic, but I was made so uncomfortable by this entire novel. I knew the direction it was heading, and when it finally got there - I just felt so icky. I was also nearly bored out of my mind the entire time. See the full review here.





The Woman Who Fed the Dogs* by Kristien Hemmerechts ★★☆☆☆

Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A novel based on a true story

Brief synopsis: The novel itself is based from the perspective of real-life child molester and murderer, Marc Dutroux, who was convicted in Belguim in the late 1980s. Michelle Martin was his wife during the crimes and was also sentenced to prison. She was released in 2012. This story is a fictional novel based from the perspective of Michelle (Odette, in the novel) during the time prior to her release.

Overall thoughts: The plot of this book sounded really great, but I didn't feel the same while actually reading it. The book was pretty graphic and vulgar in a way that seemed unnecessary. I wasn't impressed with the book, but think it had potential. It just wasn't quite there for me. See the full review here.













** denotes I received a copy free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.