Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Featured Review Archive

These reviews, which were promoted in CBR social media, on our homepage, and in Pajiba Love, appear below by review publication date, not by date featured.

 

Nevertheless, they persisted

Bright Young Women: A Novel by Jessica Knoll

by 2 Comments

From Harper’s Bazaar, Best Books of 2023: Don’t miss this “breakneck thriller based on Ted Bundy’s heinous crimes [following] two women with connections to the murders and their search for justice…a sharp examination of our culture’s obsession with serial killers and true crime” I was unaware while reading Jessica Knoll’s Bright Young Women: A Novel that the story was inspired by Ted Bundy’s murders of two sorority girls at Florida State University in 1978. The novel recounts the events and more importantly the aftermath of […]

There is a whole In Death wiki, which could easily become a rabbit hole

Payback in Death by J.D. Robb

by 1 Comment

Every January (except last year, where I clearly didn’t even try to lie to myself, I tell myself that I’m going to actually review books this year. And every February I fail. But I’ve come to the conclusion (with maybe some well-placed words from my therapist) that I need some mental health moments, and this is one of them, so even if I only last till February or only review six books, I’m still doing it. And it doesn’t matter if I only review a […]

It really is just big hair and sparkles

Behind the Seams: My Life In Rhinestones by Dolly Parton, Holly George-Warren, Rebecca Seaver

by 6 Comments

As Dolly ages more and more gracefully, she seems to be occupying a more and more precious space in our zeitgeist.  A fan, but not a true fan, I have become more enchanted with this current iteration of Dolly Parton, as she seems to have transcended even herself as a human to become something like an aesthetic or vibe. So upon seeing she released a big, glamorous book showcasing her big, glamorous closet, I had to indulge. A big, beautiful coffee table book, bright pink, […]

Does this count as Sweater…Sweater?

Sink or Swim by Annabeth Albert

by 3 Comments

I love a good Sweater/Disaster romance. You know, the kind where someone is incredibly buttoned up and their love interest is messy (in all the ways), and can’t even keep their head on their shoulders? So it was a surprise when I picked up Sink or Swim and discovered that this might be a book with a Sweater Guy…and another Sweater Guy. Except one sweater is argyle and the other is plaid, I guess. Felix is a well-dressed, well kept, slightly uptight doctor who is a single parent […]

Inside A Serial Killer’s Fantastically Disturbing Life

Blood on Snow by Jo Nesbo

by 1 Comment

I saw the person with a gun first and I felt obligated to read the blurb. As expected, forbidden fantasies between the hire-to-kill Olav and his boss’s wife, Corina, who – WTF? – Olav has been sent to kill for having an intimate affair with her stepson. This story was translated by Neil Smith from Norwegian to English. Buckle up because this plot is wild! SPOILERS AHEAD Olav Johansen is our philosophical main character. He’s a bit of an odd duck, with layers of personality […]

“So if you don’t mind, I need your stupid brain and maybe a reassuring glasses cleaning or two.”

Slayers: A Buffyverse Story by Amber Benson

by 3 Comments

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of my favorite shows of all time. Full stop. So I was immediately curious about this new spin on an old favorite, capitalizing on our cultural zeitgeist for multiverse properties. Why Buffy? Why not! When I learned that the series was written by Amber Benson, i.e., the actress who played fan favorite Tara? Take my money, Audible. And they did. I saw a three-star review of this story that started with “I never watched Buffy but…” Let me go ahead […]



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