Welcome to my reading diaries. Here, you'll discover a selection of my latest reads (both old and new), along with the films and shows I've recently watched. I hope these recommendations prove useful and that you find something that catches your eye!
Hi readers đ I hope youâre having a great summer! The heat in Barcelona has been quite unbearable these days. Iâm only working from 8 AM to 3 PM, so thatâs comfortingâplenty of time to read under the AC! Hereâs a recap of what Iâve been enjoyingâŠ
What I readâŠ
Really liked ââââ
Kill For Me, Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh.
An Honest Man by Michael Koryta.
Broken Bayou by Jennifer Moorhead
My reviewsâŠ
Kill For Me, Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh. I was in the mood for a fast-paced thriller that was entertaining, twisty, and enjoyable, and this book delivered on all counts. While the inspiration from "Strangers on a Train" has been done before, it's a premise I love, so I didn't mind discovering that this book also followed that idea. Kill for Me, Kill for You is mainly told from two perspectives: Amanda, a woman who tragically lost her daughter and husband and is prepared to kill the man responsible, and Ruth, a woman who suffers an attack in her own home and is traumatized and unable to heal. Amanda's storyline, which gives the book its title, is a fun, fast-paced action plot that kept me engaged throughout, though Ruth's storyline intrigued me more initially. I predicted the first twist fairly early on, but it was cleverly done and didnât lessen my enjoyment. The second twist caught me by surprise, and despite some convenient coincidences throughout the story, the book was so fun and enjoyable that I didnât mind. The ending was fantastic. I would recommend it as a quick summer thriller, and I'd definitely read more of Cavanagh's standalone books if theyâre half as good as this one.
An Honest Man by Michael Koryta. I've been wanting to read Michael Koryta for years, but I never found the time and wasn't sure which book to choose as my first. Finally, some days ago, I decided to start An Honest Man, a gripping tale about Israel Pike, a convicted killer who becomes entangled in the murder of several politicians on a yacht, making him a person of interest, if not the prime suspect. Simultaneously, we follow Lyman Rankin, who lives on the same island as Israel, as he tries to save a young woman fleeing from an unknown threat. How do these stories connect? The plot is pretty straight-forward, except at the beginning, where the connection between Israel and the yacht incident remains unclear and mysterious. Once that is revealed, the story unfolds into an action-packed adventure with an emotional ending that left a lasting impression on me. I found this to be a compelling and fast-paced thriller, though not a mystery in the traditional sense, as it lacks the element of uncovering clues typical of detective stories. Instead, it's a pure thriller that I could easily see adapted for the big screen and one I would gladly recommend. I became invested in the main characters' lives, especially Lyman and Hatchet, and I believe the strength of Koryta's writing lies in the endearing relationships he crafts between the characters.
Broken Bayou by Jennifer Moorhead. I always imagined that if I ever wrote a novel, it would be a story like this one. This is the type of tale that made me fall in love with mysteries as a teenager: a young woman revisits her past by returning to the town where she spent most of her summers as a child. While uncovering dark secrets hidden in the old house she once called her summer home, she realizes a serial killer is haunting the town, and she may know more than she realizes. Broken Bayou is deeply atmospheric, setting the characters in a hot and humid Louisiana town filled with damage, hurt, and evil. The book is quite short, at under 300 pages, which keeps the pace fast and engaging, making it hard to lose interest. I didn't realize how quickly I was turning the pages because I simply wanted to know more. While the mystery itself isn't the story's strongest pointâyou might guess the outcome if you pay attention, and I was suspicious of almost everyoneâit didn't detract from my enjoyment. I was captivated by the author's vivid descriptions and, most of all, the tense and harrowing family dynamics portrayed in the novel. Some parts reminded me of Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects. What can I say? I've always loved a dark, Southern setting above all else.
What I watchedâŠ
Fly Me To The Moon (2024). An entertaining and feel-good, quasi Disney movie (everything feels so honest and pure) about a woman who helps sell the moon landing to the Americans after they have lost interest and trust in NASA. Scarlett Johansson is adorable and she carries the whole show.
The Bear (S03). Somehow, I was never super into this season, it felt a bit disjointed and nothing much happened? Or perhaps it did, but not the way I was expecting. It still is stressful and the actors do a great job, but it didnât move me like past seasons.
Other bookish mindsâŠ
Murder in commonâs review of Broken Bayou.
Novel Deelightâs review of Sharp Glass, which made me excited to read it.
What about you? What are you reading and watching? Any recent loves?
