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ONE OF US IS BACK BY KAREN M. MCMANUS // spoiler-free book review: i’m just so happy to back in this psycho murdery town ft. a side of addictive writing & the bestest romance
Didn’t originally think I was going to do a review but you’re all in luck hehehe Let’s get right into it! Title: One of Us Is BackSeries: One of Us Is Lying book #3Author: Karen M. McManusPage count: 360Date published: 27 July 2023Genre: YA mystery thriller 🔍 Synopsis: Ever since Simon died in detention, life hasn’t been easy for the Bayview Crew. First the Bayview Four had to prove they weren’t killers. Then a new generation had to outwit a vengeful copycat. Now, it’s beginning again. At first the mysterious billboard seems like a bad joke: Time for a new game, Bayview. But when a member of the crew disappears, it’s clear this ‘game’ just got serious – and no one understands the rules. Everyone’s a target. And now that someone unexpected has returned to Bayview, things are starting to get deadly. The thing is, Simon was right about secrets – they all come out, eventually. And Bayview has a lot it’s still hiding. 🔍 Big thanks to Penguin Random House SA for the review copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own. 🔍 STAR RATING: (4 out of 5 stars) Almost had this finished on the last day…
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JANUARY RECAP // ya contemporary reads, rare book shopping, all the films & life updates
Only a TEENSY bit late this time. Just a smol week. Not helpful crying over spilt milk folks, let’s just get right into it!!! One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus {★★★★☆}: gosh I love me a McManus book because I just KNOW I’ll have a great time. It’s a guarantee at this point. This was no exception. Didn’t beat book two for me but it was still a blast and I highly enjoyed my time with her. Still deciding if I’m doing a full review for this one, so I’ll send you over to GR for now!!! Ty to Penguin Random House SA for the review copy! When You Get The Chance by Emma Lord {★★★★★}: finally got off my lazy ass and have mostly caught up with my fave Lord and saviour *sighs* I have a whole review coming very soon so stay tuned for that but yes I am incredibly stupid for doubting this author AGAIN GAHHHH. This book was literally everything and I’m so excited to yell about it. Big thanks to Pan Macmillan SA for the review copy and Wednesday Books for the eARC via Netgalley! Click here for the GR review xoxox…
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JULY RECAP // movie theatre mania aka going to barbenheimer, publisher events, back to school & cute reads
Quite chuffed with myself for being mostly on time with these lately. Who knows if it’ll stick because I have a big fat deadline at the end of August. You have been warned of my potential upcoming hibernation. Let me stop freaking us all out (lmao) and jump right in! — Nothing More To Tell by Karen M McManus {★★★½☆}:I FINALLY picked up this one and ugh Ms McManus always manages to sweep me away with a great time. Unfortunately, this was not my favourite of hers, I usually tend to love her characters but they weren’t my fave in this one. But the cold case was fun and I kept going, so it’s definitely worth a read if you’re a fan like me. Big thanks to Penguin Random House South Africa for the eARC and physical copy. More thoughts in GR review right over here You, With A View by Jessica Joyce {★★★★½}: I mean wow. Round of freaking applause for this DEBUT that literally knocked my socks off. Jessica has pure talent in those finger tips and this book was just absolutely everything. From the writing to the romance to the settings and the gut-wrenching grief conversations THIS…
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POPULAR BOOKTOK BOOKS I RECOMMEND // 10 viral tiktok books i actually like that you could read if you want
I don’t know what I’m doing today but I am unhinged and we’re just rolling with it. Spur of the moment decisions over at Ruby Rae Reads today *hides* I could be here talking about the worst BookTok books because I know there are many but I don’t want to put myself through that amount of pain. Very rarely will you catch me pushing through god-awful books and oof I know which ones those are. Avoiding them like the plague in this household. Anyways, I shan’t waste time on the opinions I have concerning this platform because frankly, I don’t know what I would say. It has been both very amusing watching books grow on TikTok whilst also being really cool for the book industry. So there are my two cents, maybe I’ll come back for a discussion? This post is just going to discuss books I rated basically higher than 3 stars. Some are not amazing and a few by authors I wouldn’t support anymore, but I wanted to talk about. Let’s just get into the books. There are more than I anticipated so I’ll be as brief as possible! CONTEMPORARY — It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover:…
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ONE OF US IS LYING SEASON 1 & 2 // spoiler-free tv show review: a perfect teen mystery you will binge in two days ft. drama, cute romance and all the fun
This post has been in the drafts for far too long so thank the heavens I’m actually getting around to it. I honestly do not remember how to post film reviews even though I’m a film major. I choose to ignore that detail. Anyways, I’m going to shoot my shot here because I really want to yell about this show. I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing but giving it my best folks, just bear with me. Quick disclaimer: this is mostly going to be about season two because it’s been a hot second since I watched the first season. And I don’t plan on spoiling any major plot points, I’m not an awful person about to ruin your fun. Let’s get into it! CASTING & CHARACTERS I literally have one complaint about this show and it’s that some of these actors look like they’re 30. Nothing against them because their performances are great but I struggle to picture them as teens #sorrynotsorry. Casting is accurate and inaccurate at the same time and I don’t know what to think. Aside from that, they all did a great job and what I love is that the cast feels so connected…
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YOU’LL BE THE DEATH OF ME BY KAREN M. MCMANUS // blog tour book review: I devoured this YA mystery ft. fun premise and loveable characters
Hi hello lovely friends! And welcome to my (one day late IM SO SORRY) You’ll Be The Death of Me tour stop which I’m just so so so excited to be part of. This year has been crazy lately but this book was exactly what I needed and I devoured it. Big thanks to The Write Reads for having me on this tour, I’m so happy to be here! Title: You’ll Be The Death of MeAuthor: Karen M. McManusPage count: 326Date published: 2 December 2021Genre: Young Adult mystery thriller ♢ Synopsis: From the author of One of Us Is Lying comes a brand new addictive thriller. Ivy, Mateo and Cal used to be close – best friends back in middle school. Now all they have in common is a bad day. So for old time’s sake they skip school together – one last time. But when the trio spot Brian ‘Boney’ Mahoney ditching class too, they follow him – right into a murder scene. They all have a connection to the victim. And they’re ALL hiding something. When their day of freedom turns deadly, it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out . . . It’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off with…
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ONE OF US US NEXT BY KAREN M. MCMANUS // spoiler-free book review: a mystery i actually loved ft. deadly games and great characters
My friends LOOK I READ AN ACTUAL BOOK!! It has been too long aghhh. But my mojo is back, I’M BACK FOLKS. And it feels SO GOOD. Anyways yes book review! Let’s just chat about this book that I positively devoured in like 12 hours. That I also freaking LOVED. Title: One of Us Is Next Series: One of Us Is Lying book #2 Author: Karen M. McManus Page count: 375 Date published: 7 January 2020 Genre: Young Adult mystery thriller ♢ Synopsis: It is a year after the action of One of Us Is Lying, and someone has started playing a game of Truth or Dare. But this is no ordinary Truth or Dare. This game is lethal. Choosing the truth may reveal your darkest secrets, accepting the dare could be dangerous, even deadly. The teenagers of Bayview must work together once again to find the culprit before it’s too late . . . ♢ STAR RATING: (4.5 out of 5 stars) ♢ A huge thanks to Penguin Books South Africa for kindly sending this review copy my way! All thoughts and opinions are my own. I apologise that I only just now remembered that I also…
