I do not understand the hype this book has gotten.

The film references went largely over my head and took up unnecessary time and space.

After a certain point, the protagonist‘s unreliability became a bore. When you‘ve been bounced back and forth time and again, it loses its intended effect and becomes annoying.

I guessed the first major twist, and the others laid themselves out to me fairly easily thereafter.

This is perfect for action lovers; it was entertaining, if a little improbable at times (but I guess that comes with this genre).

The heavy subject matters lends this book a realness that truly adds to the storyline and character development.

Very well written.

I was instantly engrossed in this wonderfully lyrical and touching tale. The marshland setting is a character in itself; the stillness and quietness captivating.

Kya was an easy character to fall in love with. Her life was eloquently written - flowing organically from her childhood of abandonment to love. Tate and Kya‘s love story felt real and raw.

This emotionally wrought novel is an ode to the natural world. Five big stars

This was a readable story but I wasn‘t gripped by it! I enjoyed the atmosphere the author created but that‘s about it.

I also wasn‘t freaked out by the body horror/gore element.

I wanted to love this book, but it just didn‘t deliver on the horror front. Especially in comparison to books such as Misery - damnnn that book had me squirming in my seat and checking my legs as I was reading it.

Not a terrible book, but kinda dull

I found this slow to start and it didn‘t pick up. A mediocre story, where not much happened throughout, with the added bonus of irritating characters.

Even the events that ended up happening were too coincidental to add interest to the story. There was too much going on, and the book was much too long for what it was. Another bugbear was the grammatical errors throughout, how did no one notice?!

This was very fast paced and busy. I was not overly fussed on the structure of short, snappy sentences throughout the book.

I also couldn‘t connect to any of the characters; there was very little development in that aspect. The lack of depth made what could have been a potential page turner, very disjointed. Events also became unbelievable towards the end.

Another overhyped book from the ‘gram

This was so fast paced for King, it was relentless horror from page one. This sucked me in from the get go, with big ol‘ Collie Entragian leading the way to the highway of hell and desperation.

The usual motley crew of King characters: the weary writer, the couple, the extraordinary preteen, the old guy. King writes so accurately of preteen feelings and his depiction of relationships and marriage is unerringly exact. Solid 5 ⭐️

You have the right to remain silent,' the big cop said in his robot's voice. 'If you do not choose to remain silent, anything you say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. I'm going to kill you. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand your rights as I have explained them to you?

After the End goes beyond Mackintosh‘s usual suspense thrillers; being a gut wrenching, heartbreaking story.

Impressively written, with hope and heartbreak aplenty. The narratives flowed seamlessly together, leaving a lasting impression.

This isn‘t an easy read, particularly as a parent. It is original and emotional. An exquisite story; a true display of Mackintosh‘s superb talent.

A look at wartime Britain from the courageous women who lived during that time. This was lighthearted until it wasn‘t. Uplifting story of bravery and friendship in the face of hopelessness.

Quite different from the usual historical fiction I read, but enjoyable nonetheless. Perfect holiday read.

I loved this! The beginning was so palpable with tension that I didn‘t realise I was clenched up until I got cramp. 🤣 disturbing and bleak, whilst touching on many relevant modern day topics. The whole narrative fit together nicely, whilst not being predictable. Will definitely look out for more of Tremblay‘s books.

Hmm, something about this book just didn‘t click with me. Perhaps something was lost in translation.

Reminiscent of the film ‘Up‘, this had an undertone of heartbreak throughout and some genuinely sad moments. It felt as if many things were added purely for entertainment purposes, therefore it felt too try-hard at times. Ove is a loveable character, and the ending was just right.

This is a slow burner, laced with dread; as is most of King‘s work. King is the only author who makes me feel genuine fear. He has an uncanny ability to write small towns and lifelike characters, and this is evidently displayed in ‘salems lot.

My first foray into vampires, and these are definitely not the ‘sparkly‘ kind. Another solid book from the master himself!

I wasn‘t expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did, it was more of a ‘light‘ YA thriller than my usual dark thrillers. Despite this, I couldn‘t put it down!
Claustrophobia inducing, tense and frustrating all at once. A solid and enjoyable thriller.

Being reunited with the four loveable characters felt cosy and familiar, like slipping on a favourite item of clothing. Just as in the first book, this was full of dry humour, with sharp and witty insights. Funny without ever being ‘try hard‘.

This was a lot more action packed than the first, and quite busy at times. Still hugely enjoyable and looking forward to reading the third.

This was well written, tense and fast paced. The past and present timelines were easy to follow. It was a little predictable at times, however there were a few surprises thrown in. A little unbelievable towards the end, but this didn‘t mar the novel as a whole. Solid 4*

I agree with other reviewers in that this collection of stories felt a lot like King having fun; playing with different genres. All stories had varying levels of classic King though.

I found all stories to be enjoyable. Some had more of a lasting impression than others; however, I think that‘s the case with short story collections.

More masterfully written tales from the King himself.

Needed a lighthearted read after my previous book, but I thought this was boring and dragged on for far too long. Nice story, good characters, easy to follow but easily forgettable. Very mediocre for me.

Heart wrenching and beautiful writing, with vivid descriptions that come to life. A devastating and thought provoking look into how messed up the world is and the redemption of hope.

An unconventional, disjointed book. There were some profound and relatable truths regarding marriage and motherhood; these turned out to be the only true enjoyment that I attained from this book. I‘m not sure what genre I would class this, I wouldn‘t say thriller. Perhaps psychological mystery? Interesting but not my cup of tea.

A fast paced and twisty domestic thriller. This was a quick read which kept me guessing. Perfect for thriller fans.

Quick, easy read with Hollywood glamour aplenty. I don‘t understand all the hype this book has gotten, it fell rather flat for me. The twists at the end weren‘t particularly that shocking or gripping. There were some touching moments thrown in, however, I was disappointed overall.

It‘s evident that Kings writing style differs with this book; it‘s similar in storyline to Misery - one of my favourite King books. However, this felt mediocre. It did pick up towards the end.

One of the gorier King books I‘ve read; my black heart really enjoyed those parts though. He also writes his female characters unerringly accurate, just as good as if a female author wrote the book.

When I first started reading this, I was prepared to rate it three stars believing it to be another mediocre read. However, Eleanor slowly but surely grew on me until I fell in love with her character and story.

Themes such as humour, despair, friendship and loneliness are poignantly well written throughout. A beautifully touching and impressive debut from Honeyman.

A perfect psychological family drama full of suspense. I would have finished this much sooner if it weren‘t for illness 😏

Captivating and atmospheric story, full of twists. Excellent character development throughout, with a perfect ending. Will look out for more Jewell books!

I usually love historical fiction, particularly stories centred around WW2. I can see what the author was trying to achieve and it had the premise of an interesting novel. However, the story felt disjointed and often boring. I had no real pull or interest in the characters.

I found the first half of this quite slow, and was prepared to rate it 2 stars; however, it picked up in the second half. Whilst far from a favourite read, it was tolerably good.

The intrigue made up for the boringness and lack of action in the first half.

I could certainly tell that The Hunting Party was a predecessor to The Guest List, which I rated five stars! Foley‘s skills definitely became honed during the latter.

I did it. I have spent the last year with Roland and his ka-tet. Commala come come, the journey is done.

How can I summarise my feelings, or even the plot, of this magnificent magnum opus?

This is what King excels at - he doesn‘t just lay words on a page, he brings them alive in the mind of the reader. I don‘t think I will ever forget the scene building throughout this series.

Sai King, I say thank ya.

Interesting and profound in displaying the pressures on NHS staff. However, there was something about Adam Kay that I simply didn‘t ‘like‘. There was a tone of arrogance throughout.

As much as I sympathised, I felt he was also a little out of touch with how life is for working class people. I guess my issues are with the author and not the book.

An eye opening read.

I wanted to love this book more than I did. Whilst I enjoyed the characters and their stories, it wasn‘t enough to keep me wanting more. The second half in particular was quite slow and flat.

However, I always appreciate an opportunity to be shown my white privilege and this book definitely succeeded in doing that.

Stephen King is the master of horror and the king of dread; this is clearly evident in the masterpiece that is The Shining.

Jack Torrance‘s whirlwind descent into madness is pure terror within the pages, and you just know that shit is going to hit the fan! Realistic horrors such as alcoholism blend seamlessly with supernatural elements, creating a truly terrifying read.

A fast paced and twisty domestic thriller. This was a quick read which kept me guessing. Perfect for thriller fans.

My first novel in the apocalyptic genre, and whilst interesting enough to keep me reading, it was definitely too long and a little boring.

I didn‘t care for the characters, and Jed‘s portrayal as a 6 year old was so inaccurate it was funny.

Good premise, it just lost its way somewhere along the road and dragged on slowly.

A pretentious self help book disguised as a novel. Cringeworthy quotes aplenty! The story could have been promising, however the lack of depth and character development resulted in this YA style fiction being very flat. The main character is in her thirties, yet acts and thinks like a teenager. There was no flow, just constant repetition. I had to force myself to finish.

A fast paced and action filled volume in comparison to the others in this epic series. This definitely had the atmosphere of a journey almost at its close, with more and more things beginning to make sense.

Kings imagination knows no limits and this series is evidence of that. I am in ever growing awe!

I have currently just started the last but one book of The Dark Tower series, and oh boy, has it been a ride! Would highly recommend the series as a whole.

Beware that it is a massive undertaking but the immersive world building is so worth it 🤯

Overly complicated and long winded story where not much happens. The introduction of so many names was tedious, particularly as they didn‘t add any depth to the story. By the time I finally started getting some answers, I was past the point of caring. The writing was cliched and cringy at times. So-so.

Clare Mackintosh never disappoints! Just what a good thriller should be - gripping and claustrophobia inducing with plenty of twists and turns.

I was hooked until the very end and raced through the last few chapters. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another shock was thrown in! 5*

I fell in love with the maids and their stories in this book. Reading in dialect made it personal and I felt as if these women were real, not made up characters.

Beneath the despair, there is hope. Hope that not every person is a sheep and that there are brave people like Miss Skeeter, who paved the way for change, despite the consequences.

Touching, heartbreaking and thought provoking.

A quintessentially British cozy murder mystery. Full of well developed and likeable characters. I did not find events confusing, as other reviewers have said - however I‘m a pretty slow reader, so I really digest what I‘m reading before moving on.

Lighthearted British humour throughout, also with some very poignant truths that had me nodding my head at the wisdom. I would definitely read the others in the series.

Whilst this was an enjoyable read featuring all my favourite ka-tet, it was a chunk of a book that possibly didn‘t need to be as long. That being said, King is known for his epic tome‘s and it‘s not really wasted space - it all adds to the journey that is the masterpiece of the dark tower series.

Glad I finally managed to finish it, however I‘m still excited for the next instalment. May it do ya fine.

Hmm this was a tricky one… I feel like this book lacked direction and meandered along without a gripping main storyline. From a mother‘s viewpoint, I felt for the main character, however I didn‘t really care much either way.

The book almost reminded me of a memoir style read - the author does actually work in mental health services, so I guess this rings somewhat true.

Slow read where not much happens.

That was truly awful, and I had to force myself to finish it. I have no idea why this book has such rave reviews.

It was multilayered, but very, very boring! I was indifferent to all the characters. Some parts were so scoffingly unbelievable. The book did not flow, and the writing was rather jarring.

Steering well clear of any Karin Slaughter novels from now on

King is a master crafter of creating coming of age children who you become deeply invested in. He does this in nearly every book I‘ve read of his, and it marvels me that an adult can so vividly remember and perfectly capture the feelings and emotions that are felt as a child.

This story within a story within a story was fast paced and compelling. I am in no rush to get to the Dark Tower, I am enjoying the journey far too much!

This is less of a psychological thriller; more of a psychological memoir. It was interesting nonetheless.

We go from past to present in almost every paragraph, and the constant switch became tiring quickly.

There was no ease of transition - characters would be dropped in with no introduction, leaving me wondering if I had missed something. Interesting story, however it was also flat and confusing.

Quick, easy read for fans of YA. I myself am more of an older adult - much older, so probably not the best at giving an unbiased review. I can imagine younger me enjoying this book very much! Some beautiful descriptive writing and an interesting format, with illustrations, diary entries etc.

This backstory was necessary and all part of the tower journey. I think it‘s safe to say that King unquestionably captured the essence of passionate young love.

Vivid and descriptive, I found myself transported from my couch right into the pages of Mid-World.

As for the length of this book, I felt there were no wasted pages. Each page added something valuable and necessary to understanding the quest of the tower.

Unlikeable characters and a boring storyline. Took a while to finish as I just didn‘t have the urge to pick it up!