What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall (★★☆☆☆)
Audiobook • Library • Thriller • 2023
Short synopsis: Naomi Shaw and her friends, Cassidy and Olivia, once played a game of magic in the woods, but it ended tragically when Naomi was attacked and nearly killed. Decades later, as Olivia wants to reveal a long-held secret, Naomi must uncover the dangerous truth of what really happened.
This thriller gets pretty good reviews and Meredith from Currently Reading loved it, so I was excited to read it. And I just hated it. Womp, womp. Honestly, my main issue lies with the narrator. I didn’t love the way she read the novel and I really disliked the fact that every male character had the exact same silly deep voice. It wasn’t a good performance and I considered abandoning the book because of it. Alas, I kept going because I was hopeful that the plot would make up for it. And it didn’t. The thriller was slow and meandering and even slightly predictable at times. I felt like the story went completely off the rails by the end, and the ending was deeply unsatisfying. Unfortunately, not a thriller I would recommend!
Act Like It by Lucy Parker (★★★★★)
Print • Owned (Amazon) • Contemporary Romance • 2015
Short synopsis: Once London’s hottest actor, Richard Troy’s fiery temper has made him public enemy number one, leaving fans heartbroken. However, rumors swirl that his romance with Lainie Graham might be transforming him into a new man, sparking speculation about whether this unlikely pair is genuine or just an act.
This is a reread for me, as I am a Lucy Parker stan and want to work my way through her books again while I wait for her next release. I wasn’t sure if this one would be as good as I remembered it, but it absolutely was. This one had a few different tropes: a little bit enemies-to-lovers, a little bit fake-dating, a little bit sunshine/grumpy. It all worked together for a wonderful romance that I couldn’t get enough of. What I really appreciate about Lucy’s novels is that she doesn’t create these dramatic dark moments. There is a dark moment in this book but it felt totally natural and got resolved fairly quickly. I loved this novel just as much as the first time I read it and I can’t wait to keep rereading her backlist!
What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo (★★★★★)
Print • Owned (Amazon) • Nonfiction • 2022
Short synopsis: A searing memoir of reckoning and healing by acclaimed journalist Stephanie Foo, investigating the little-understood science behind complex PTSD and how it has shaped her life.
What a stunning memoir. I was curious to read this book as someone who also had a traumatic childhood (my ACES score is the same as Stephanie’s), although I do not believe I have complex PTSD as Stephanie does. Stephanie was emotionally and physically abused by her mom and then abandoned by her when she was only 13. And then her father was essentially absent from her life until he, too, abandoned her to live with his new family when she was 16. It’s horrifying to think about everything she went through and everything she had to shoulder alone. During this book, Stephanie takes us through her childhood, her college and early adulthood life, and then finding out her diagnosis and what she does afterward. There isn’t a ton of research and treatment for C-PTSD because it isn’t considered an official diagnosis in the DSM. Stephanie tells us about all of the different therapies she tries, from talk therapy and acupuncture to meditation and restorative yoga. It’s a beautifully written book, but it’s a hard book to read because learning how to break free of the typical coping skills of someone with C-PTSD is incredibly difficult. It takes patience and understanding and courage.
This book made me super grateful for my mom. While I did have a traumatic childhood, I also had a strong support system. I had my mom’s unconditional love. I felt safe and secure with her. I had my brother, and he is the only person in the world who understands what we went through with my father. He had my back when we were growing up and today, he’s the person I can go to when I need to reminisce and talk through dad stuff. I also had my grandparents who also gave me unconditional love and a soft place to land. I had uncles and aunts and cousins. Stephanie didn’t have any family in the States (her parents immigrated here while the rest of her family remained in Malaysia). I can’t imagine going through such a difficult childhood with nobody by my side.
Anyway, obviously this book touched me in a deep, impactful way and I am so grateful to this author for writing such a personal book. I know it’s going to help so many people.
What are you reading?