Bird Box by Josh Malerman

I love when I start the New Year off right with a fantastic book!
---This is more of a book vs movie review then an actual review of this amazing novel.

Published: May 13, 2014 by HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
Genres: Fiction, Horror, Thriller, Suspense, Post Apocalyptic, Dystopia

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Description:

Something is out there, something terrifying that must not be seen. One glimpse of it, and a person is driven to deadly violence. No one knows what it is or where it came from.

Five years after it began, a handful of scattered survivors remains, including Malorie and her two young children. Living in an abandoned house near the river, she has dreamed of fleeing to a place where they might be safe. Now that the boy and girl are four, it's time to go, but the journey ahead will be terrifying: twenty miles downriver in a rowboat--blindfolded--with nothing to rely on but her wits and the children’s trained ears. One wrong choice and they will die. Something is following them all the while, but is it man, animal, or monster?

Review:

YES, YES, YES! I absolutely loved this book. Page one had me hooked immediately. The movie came out on Netflix and there was a lot of hype over the novel in all my book circles. So of course I had to check it out. I was a little hesitant as I had read on of Malerman's books last year and I was not impressed. However, this one held my attention all the way through I couldn't put it down. The suspense was built perfectly.

Post apocalyptic novels are quickly becoming one of my favorite genres. I have not read one yet that I haven't really enjoyed. Its fun to me to think - what would I do in this situation. Would I handle situations like the characters are. Its fun for me because unlike in regular horrors there is no feeling like the character is being too stupid for going into the basement because "we all know what is going to happen". Each Post apocalyptic novel really has to set things up and take you down an experience that you have never been apart of.

Then I watched the movie on Netflix.... big mistake. I don't think I have ever been so disappointed in a film adaptation. I can count on one hand the number of similarities between the book and the movie. The movie lacks any of the suspense needed. Doesn't make the point of how well the children trust her and will listen to her no matter what. In fact, it shows them deliberately disobeying her numerous times and even refusing to come to her because they fear her. This part really made me mad. It made Malorie look like a bad mother instead of doing everything she can to trust them. There is zero demonstration of the children's exceptional hearing ability, yet in the book she completely relies on them to keep them all alive. They don't even call her mom in the movie.

I highly recommend the book... maybe not so much the movie.

A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa Sheinmel

Publish: February 5, 2019 by Sourcebooks Fire
Genres: YA, Suspense, Mental Illness

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Description:
Four walls. One window. No way to escape. Hannah knows there's been a mistake. She didn't need to be institutionalized. What happened to her roommate at her summer program was an accident. As soon as the doctors and judge figure out that she isn't a danger to herself or others, she can go home to start her senior year. In the meantime, she is going to use her persuasive skills to get the staff on her side.

Then Lucy arrives. Lucy has her own baggage. And she may be the only person who can get Hannah to confront the dangerous games and secrets that landed her in confinement in the first place.



Review:

"Time didn't magically slow down, giving me a few extra seconds to consider what to do next. It happened fast. it wasn't graceful. It didn't look pretty."

The title and cover drew me in perfectly and since its around Halloween time I just had to read this book. I gratefully received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my review.

I absolutely loved Hannah! But who wouldn't, that's her thing.. making best friends. As an only child I can relate with Hannah about growing up faster than your friends and the need/want for children your age. As an only child, its easy to come across as more mature because a majority of your conversations are with adults so its something that comes easy to you.

Sheinmel, played this story out perfectly. I was not not expecting any of the twists and turns that were thrown in. This book was impossible to put down. I loved every second of it. I have never experienced anyone close to me with this kind of mental illness or anything similar so this was a learning experience for me. Sheinmel really made me feel like I was sitting in the room with Hannah and Lucy.. I mean Hannah ;)

I was proud of Hannah and how she accepted her illness. It was sad and brought tears to my eyes when she finally started to understand what was happening. Her parents were very abnormal for parents dealing with a child who was sick but they were also kind of strange before she started her illness, who leaves a four year old in a hotel room by themselves.

This book was perfectly done and I will definitely be telling everyone about this title!

An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

Publish: January 8, 2019 by St. Martin's Press
Genres: Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Thriller

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Description:
Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed. 

When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking…and what she’s hiding. As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.

From the authors of the blockbuster bestseller The Wife Between Us comes an electrifying new novel about doubt, passion, and just how much you can trust someone.

Review:

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the Advanced Reader's Edition of this book. I received this in exchange for my honest review. 

I love the cover. I love both covers that have been chosen for Hendricks and Pekkanen. They are very intriguing and they let you know that these two women are going to be very intermingled with each other and its going to be in a twisted way. Sets you up and gets you excited for a great thriller. 

So the story starts out with Jessica, down on her luck financially. She is a make up artist and while with a client she takes a great leap and steals an opportunity from her -- the survey. This finds her mixed up and doing weird things for Dr. Shields that are a bit questionable and placing her in opportunities in front of her husband. Before Jessica catches on to what is happening and what Dr. Sheilds's objective is.... She has already slept with the Doctor's husband. Oops! 

The build up and suspense was done very well. The ending sucked! I was very disappointed. I was very excited for something dramatic and drastic to happen but there is nothing. I only made it half way through The Wife Between Us so I'm wondering if Hendricks and Pekkanen just can't close and bring about a fantastic story. They did a lot better this round in holding my attention longer. But I did find myself skimming a lot with a "alright already" attitude. 

I don't really understand the title. Hendricks and Pekkanen attempted using it with Jessica "remaining just another anonymous girl". But at no point in the story was anyone anonymous. I think a better title would be fitting. 

The POV jumped back and fourth between Jessica and Dr. Shields. When it's Jessica's POV the book is read normal and in first person. Then you get Dr. Shields perspective its "you do this" and "you do that" describing things about Jessica as she is doing them. Its makes me feel like Dr. Shields is a peeping tom but this really helps build the suspense and make you want to know more. 

Three stars because I felt like most of the story was a success. Unfortunately, they just couldn't bring it home. 

Also, be sure to check out:

The Wife Between Us


When you read this book, you will make many assumptions.
You will assume you are reading about a jealous ex-wife.
You will assume she is obsessed with her replacement – a beautiful, younger woman who is about to marry the man they both love. 
You will assume you know the anatomy of this tangled love triangle.
Assume nothing. 

Twisted and deliciously chilling, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's The Wife Between Us exposes the secret complexities of an enviable marriage - and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love.

Recently published

Published TODAY: Someone Like Me

SHE LOOKS LIKE ME. SHE SOUNDS LIKE ME. NOW SHE'S TRYING TO TAKE MY PLACE.

Liz Kendall wouldn't hurt a fly. She's a gentle woman devoted to bringing up her kids in the right way, no matter how hard times get.

But there's another side to Liz---one which is dark and malicious. A version of her who will do anything to get her way, no matter how extreme or violent.

And when this other side of her takes control, the consequences are devastating.

The only way Liz can save herself and her family is if she can find out where this new alter-ego has come from, and how she can stop it.

Other Titles by M.R. Carey

The Girl With All the Gifts

Melanie is a very special girl. Dr. Caldwell calls her "our little genius."

Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh.

Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside the classroom and the children's cells. She tells her favorite teacher all the things she'll do when she grows up. Melanie doesn't know why this makes Miss Justineau look sad.

The Girl with All the Gifts is a sensational thriller, perfect for fans of Stephen King, Justin Cronin, and Neil Gaiman.

The Boy on the Bridge (The Girl with all the Gifts #2)

Once upon a time, in a land blighted by terror, there was a very clever boy.

The people thought the boy could save them, so they opened their gates and sent him out into the world.

To where the monsters lived.

Book Club is Back!!

Last spring I was up at the bar with a girlfriend of mine for her birthday. We were standing around talking about kids and our husbands, lovely conversations as always. Suddenly, she turns to her cousin and they start talking about bookclub... Wait What! I of course got excited and asked the for all the details. They were currently reading Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. What a coincidence, as I was too. So for their next meeting I tagged along. They had it set up were everyone suggests a book and then they vote on it and that is the book we read. 

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I guess there were some issues as to how that was playing out because come this fall our "president" put out a text message and she drew names and assigned a girl to each month. I guess this works out better s that everyone can have a chance to select a book. I got selected for September so I was kind of nervous, setting the bar for the year and having to choose a book that everyone would love after not reading all some (for some of them). So I chose, It's Always the Husband by Michele Campbell. 

This book was perfect. Every girl in my book club was excited to read it. It was the perfect book to get everyone back into the groove. I feel like this book was the definition of suspense. At one point my suspect list was like nine people long! I love the twist and turns. It always keep you guessing, right when you think you have it figured out Campbell thoughts you for a huge curb ball making you question everything you  were thinking. A lot of times when I read mysteries I feel like by about half way I'm already concluding the end of the book and I really struggle to finish them without skimming. It's Always the Husband held my attention the entire book. I couldn't wait to finish it to see how far away from the right answer I was.