EliK1
Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative
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The Kind Worth SavingThe Kind Worth Saving, BookA Novel
by Swanson, PeterBook - 2023 | First edition.Book, 2023. First edition.
EliK1's rating:
Added Jul 02, 2023
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All your PerfectsAll your Perfects, BookA Novel
by Hoover, ColleenBook - 2018 | First Atria Books hardcover edition.Book, 2018. First Atria Books hardcover edition.
EliK1's rating:
Added Mar 27, 2023
Comment:
A book about the good times in the past and the struggles of the present. A beautiful love story without any sugarcoating. I was glad to see the ending that there was an no other - made it for a REAL story.
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EliK1's rating:
Added Aug 03, 2022
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A thought-provoking book about how to be a kind person and how to treat others around you. It also teaches us how to make the best of your circumstances and that an imagination can help you get through some of the darkest times.
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EliK1's rating:
Added Aug 03, 2022
Comment:
Just as good as when I read it when I was a kid. While I thought there was more kid's 1st crush stuff in there, the whole story flowed perfectly. There's so much strength, courage, and love in this tale. Great lessons and a fantastic journey. A classic.
If you're a kid who dreams of adventure, especially if you feel lonely, this will be the book for you to get lost in. After reading this as a kid, I wished for a secret garden of my own.Just as good as when I read it when I was a kid. While I thought there was more kid's 1st crush stuff in there, the whole story flowed perfectly. There's so much strength, courage, and love in this tale. Great lessons and a fantastic journey. A…
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Too Good to Be TrueToo Good to Be True, Book
by Lovering, CarolaBook - 2021 | First U.S. edition.Book, 2021. First U.S. edition.
EliK1's rating:
Added Sep 17, 2021
Comment:
It's a boy meets girl type of story with a twist. It started off really interesting with two different perspectives. About halfway, you are able to figure out where the story is headed and that's when it starts going downhill. There's a twist for the sake of twists and basically, the first half of the book is rewritten. We are spoonfed the entire thing, which I did not like.It's a boy meets girl type of story with a twist. It started off really interesting with two different perspectives. About halfway, you are able to figure out where the story is headed and that's when it starts going downhill. There's a twist for…
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I Am Watching YouI Am Watching You, Book
by Driscoll, TeresaBook - 2017 | First edition.Book, 2017. First edition.
EliK1's rating:
Added May 20, 2021
Comment:
Most of the book was pretty intriguing. We had multiple potential suspects and we were slowly trying to figure out what happened to Anna and who might have been linked to her disappearance. All was good and well until the ending that was totally out of the left field. It was rushed and just spoon-fed to us. Basically, anything before the ending was useless information. Disappointing.Most of the book was pretty intriguing. We had multiple potential suspects and we were slowly trying to figure out what happened to Anna and who might have been linked to her disappearance. All was good and well until the ending that was totally out…
Don't Look for MeDon't Look for Me, Book
by Walker, WendyBook - 2020 | First U.S. edition.Book, 2020. First U.S. edition.
EliK1's rating:
Added Apr 06, 2021
Comment:
A decent thriller/ family drama that shows how the same thing can impact different people, and how those people, in turn, impact those around them. I particularly liked the relationship between the main character (mother) with the captor girl. It was very nuanced. The ending came together nicely. I wasn't the biggest fan of the older daughter who was looking for her mother - her actions did not interest me all that much.A decent thriller/ family drama that shows how the same thing can impact different people, and how those people, in turn, impact those around them. I particularly liked the relationship between the main character (mother) with the captor girl. It…
EliK1's rating:
Added Dec 16, 2020
Comment:
This was the absolute worst book I've read in a long time.
The premise was intriguing at first, but then it all became very cliche.
The characters are hard to like. I don't believe Emily's character to be real (the pieces just don't fit together to form a whole).
The blog-like format of some of the chapters is unnecessary. It does not bring anything to the table. Instead, it just makes this basic book more basic.
It seemed as if the author had no idea what the book was going to be like. She just had a premise and went from there. Whatever twist was needed to get her out of an issue, it was implemented. It was all unnatural and forced.
Potential spoilers:
If Emily is a total psychopath (as we hear all of the stories from her life), she should not be so caring towards her son. It just doesn't make sense how nothing else moves her, but somehow the child is her kryptonite.
Stephanie is a ditz. OK, we get it. But was it really that easy to have her push a car with a dead person off a cliff? Not the soundest of logic.
And Sean. So strong, yet so weak and clueless about everything.This was the absolute worst book I've read in a long time.
The premise was intriguing at first, but then it all became very cliche.
The characters are hard to like. I don't believe Emily's character to be real (the pieces just don't fit together to…
When She Was GoodWhen She Was Good, BookA Novel
by Robotham, MichaelBook - 2020 | First Scribner hardcover edition.Book, 2020. First Scribner hardcover edition.
EliK1's rating:
Added Nov 12, 2020
Comment:
This is a sequel to "Good girl, bad girl." I have to say that I liked book no.2 much better. We focused more on Evie and the backstory was still... about Evie, which made the book cohesive (unlike book no.1). While it does help to read book 1 before book 2, it' still not an issue to treat book 2 as a standalone. A lot from the previous installment is summed up here and there throughout this book so it doesn't feel like you've missed too much.
The one thing I found odd was Cyrus' age. I thought he would have been in his late 40s, early 50s, not 30s.This is a sequel to "Good girl, bad girl." I have to say that I liked book no.2 much better. We focused more on Evie and the backstory was still... about Evie, which made the book cohesive (unlike book no.1). While it does help to read book 1 before…
Name of the WindName of the Wind, BookThe Kingkiller Chronicle : Day One
by Rothfuss, PatrickBook - 2007Book, 2007
EliK1's rating:
Added Oct 25, 2020
Comment:
I found myself leafing through the pages, hoping for the story to begin. There are a few moments that you think it will finally pick up and then it just doesn't go very far. The ending leaves room for a more interesting story (sequel), but since I didn't enjoy this one as much, I will not be picking part 2 up.
Some strange things happen at the beginning and then we find ourselves listening to a tale about someone's childhood. Yes, I know how it sounds, but it's a bit like a wannabe Harry Potter with a school for special kids, secrets are hidden underground, and masters who might be not what they seem.I found myself leafing through the pages, hoping for the story to begin. There are a few moments that you think it will finally pick up and then it just doesn't go very far. The ending leaves room for a more interesting story (sequel), but since I…
THE CLOSER YOU GETTHE CLOSER YOU GET, Book
by Torjussen, MaryBook - 2020 | First Edition.Book, 2020. First Edition.
EliK1's rating:
Added Sep 03, 2020
Comment:
Not sure how I feel. It started off interesting but it finished flat.
About two people who decide to leave their spouses and move in together. As you can guess, things do not go according to plan. There was one or two things that aren't answered at all, which can be good (left to your imagination) or bad (lazy writing). Otherwise, you kind of can predict most of the plot.Not sure how I feel. It started off interesting but it finished flat.
About two people who decide to leave their spouses and move in together. As you can guess, things do not go according to plan. There was one or two things that aren't answered at…
The FriendThe Friend, BookA Novel
by Zander, JoakimBook - 2019 | First U.S. edition.Book, 2019. First U.S. edition.
EliK1's rating:
Added May 14, 2020
Comment:
WARNING: explicit male on male action (aggressive at times)
I was not prepared for it. I wish I knew about it, then I would not have picked this book up.
That aside, the book was very mediocre. Very predictable. I did not relate to any of the characters. I wasn't rooting for them. I didn't care what happened to them. Apparently, every "regular" person in this book is able to escape the law, terrorists, and spies. It felt like a superhero-themed book. Unbelievable.WARNING: explicit male on male action (aggressive at times)
I was not prepared for it. I wish I knew about it, then I would not have picked this book up.
That aside, the book was very mediocre. Very predictable. I did not relate to any of the…
EliK1's rating:
Added May 08, 2020
Comment:
2nd part of a trilogy.
SO much went on in this installment. It was definitely a page-turner for the most part.
While we got some answers, most things still remain unanswered.
I feel like the first part ended in a way that didn't require you to read the next two books, which I liked. I picked up the second book on my own. I wasn't forced to. This one, however, is different. It ends on such a cliffhanger that you HAVE TO pick up book number three.
There's this one plot (the fair/ amusement park) that I find boring and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere really. I assume that book 3 will have more of it, which I'm not necessarily keen on.2nd part of a trilogy.
SO much went on in this installment. It was definitely a page-turner for the most part.
While we got some answers, most things still remain unanswered.
I feel like the first part ended in a way that didn't require you to read…
The Dragon RepublicThe Dragon Republic, Book
by Kuang, R. F.Book - 2019 | First edition.Book, 2019. First edition.
EliK1's rating:
Added Sep 14, 2019
Comment:
The ending opens the doors for part 3, but I will not be reading it.
"The Poppy War" was terrible already. It was about a girl who came from nothing, overcame the odds and studied at a prestigious school. She hated everyone and it helped fuel her. It was all so cliche. After a while, she discovered she has a superpower, which made her character even more annoying than she already was.
I picked up "The Dragon Republic" to see if maybe the author would redeem herself. There was some potential in the mythology and the gods and the superpowers, but I feel like there wasn't enough expansion on other characters. Instead, the author focused on Rin, who is a TERRIBLE character. A spoiled brat thinking she is god. I rooted for her to die towards the end. Unfortunately, she did not. There was a bit of a plot twist towards the end, which was interesting, but then it went nowhere really and the book ended.
The story could have been told in less than half the number of pages. It's just kids trying their hand at war for hundreds of pages. So repetitive.The ending opens the doors for part 3, but I will not be reading it.
"The Poppy War" was terrible already. It was about a girl who came from nothing, overcame the odds and studied at a prestigious school. She hated everyone and it helped fuel her.…
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Girl in the Rearview MirrorGirl in the Rearview Mirror, BookA Novel
by Dimberg, Kelsey RaeBook - 2019 | First edition.Book, 2019. First edition.
EliK1's rating:
Added Aug 29, 2019
Someone Like MeSomeone Like Me, Book
by Carey, M. R.Book - 2018 | First edition.Book, 2018. First edition.
EliK1's rating:
Added Aug 04, 2019
Comment:
An interesting story that kept you asking "Where is this going?" throughout the whole book. Great characters. They became your friends and your enemies. A very peculiar storyline. I have to admit that I was hoping for a more reasonable explanation to it all, but the truth was fascinating nonetheless.An interesting story that kept you asking "Where is this going?" throughout the whole book. Great characters. They became your friends and your enemies. A very peculiar storyline. I have to admit that I was hoping for a more reasonable explanation…
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EliK1's rating:
Added Jul 25, 2019
Comment:
Some chapters were written in italics. Whenever I thought I knew why that was so, I was proven wrong. I finished the whole book and still have no idea why some were written that way. I see other reviewers had similar problems, so we must be onto something. I stopped trying to figure it out after a while and just focused on the story.
I picked that book up a few years ago, but was unable to finish it. But I had it in an electronic format, so I thought that was what ultimately kept me from reading it. When it came recommended again, I saw it as a sign and decided to try again. It was rough. I forced myself to finish it this time.
What the book does well is show how a tragedy affects those who are left behind. It seemed like the girl was to be a focal point of the story, yet she was not. The brother and the father were. The mother seems to be barely mentioned here and there.
Had some good points, but overall, nothing special.Some chapters were written in italics. Whenever I thought I knew why that was so, I was proven wrong. I finished the whole book and still have no idea why some were written that way. I see other reviewers had similar problems, so we must be onto…
EliK1's rating:
Added Jul 21, 2019
Comment:
A great 3rd book of the series. I was a bit skeptical after a very mediocre 2nd book, but it has pleasantly surprised me. All of the characters are intertwined somehow, all relevant to the story. The theme of this book was intriguing. Definitely got me guessing and turning pages. The personification of the devil was absolutely phenomenal.
The series illustrated character traits in a very emphatic way, which I like. However, it seems like the dramatic changes and turns take little to no time. It's hard to believe that if someone has a very specific belief that the next day they will wake up and believe something totally different.
The character of Matthew was well developed across the books. We saw the stages to his madness. But again, it seemed like he was questioning things here and there, but he always dismissed it to do something worse and then he broke down? Weird.A great 3rd book of the series. I was a bit skeptical after a very mediocre 2nd book, but it has pleasantly surprised me. All of the characters are intertwined somehow, all relevant to the story. The theme of this book was intriguing. Definitely got…
ChildlessChildless, Large PrintA Novel
by Dobson, James C.Large Print - 2013 | 1st large print ed.Large Print, 2013. 1st large print ed.
EliK1's rating:
Added Jul 11, 2019
Comment:
I am very disappointed with this book. After I "inhaled" Fatherless (1st book), I expected this to be even better. It was not. There seem to have been no plot, really. I felt dragged along. A woman who did not want kids ends up wanting kids right away (no real development, it just happened overnight). A guy is having slight remorse regarding assisting his mother with suicide. That's about it. The whole book could have been written on just a few pages. The thing that I found intriguing was the legalization of fetus donations. This could have been expanded on, but it wasn't.I am very disappointed with this book. After I "inhaled" Fatherless (1st book), I expected this to be even better. It was not. There seem to have been no plot, really. I felt dragged along. A woman who did not want kids ends up wanting kids right…
EliK1's rating:
Added Jun 28, 2019
Comment:
A riveting read. Page-turner. Very thought-provoking. A wide range of well-built characters. Intertwined stories of various families illustrated different perspectives on important issues.
There is quite a bit of moral and religious talk in there, so stay away if you are opposed to it. Otherwise, take a read. It just might spark something in you, or help fan the flame that is already burning.
The political aspect was a bit tedious at times, but I understand that since the government plays an important role in all that, it had to be included.A riveting read. Page-turner. Very thought-provoking. A wide range of well-built characters. Intertwined stories of various families illustrated different perspectives on important issues.
There is quite a bit of moral and religious talk in there,…
Comment: