Tag Archives: no spoilers

Aug6

Groovy Movies: The Odyssey Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Groovy Movies: The Odyssey Edition

Hi! This past weekend I enjoyed a fabulous viewing of the latest blockbuster, The Odyssey. I went into it not really knowing what to expect and, I admit, I was a bit ambivalent. Primarily because the almost three hour run time is daunting and I was worried I was going to have to go to the bathroom the whole time lol. I am pleased to report that I didn’t need a potty break once and that this lengthy flick simply breezed by. By the time it was over, it was like no time had passed at all and I was genuinely sad that it was done. It was SO good and I wanted more!! Before we begin our spoiler free discussion, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Odyssey for animal cruelty. You ready? Let’s go!

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

Odysseus, King of Ithaca, led the Trojan War and it is now time to make his way home to his wife and son, Penelope and Telemachus. It will be no easy feat to make his way back to his kingdom but he has his soldiers who are loyal and his love for his family to guide him home. And then… It all goes to Hades in a hand basket and for twenty years, everyone believes King Odysseus to be dead. In that time, Penelope is being courted to take up a new king but her heart only yearns for her husband. She confesses her fear of attacks on her kingdom to her son and Telemachus decides to go on his own adventure to locate his father.

Through interweaving story lines, we see Telemachus’s quest as well as what went so horribly wrong through Odysseus’s memories. On his journey home from war, he and his crew don’t just face the elements of hellacious storms and a lack of wind to sail, but mythical creatures that block their paths. They have run ins with a cyclops, Circe the witch, and sirens. One by one, his faithful soldiers are being killed off until it is only Odysseus left.

After years of travel, Odysseus falls under the care of Calypso who is a nymph and becomes infatuated with him. Rather than help him return home, she drugs him with an amnesia inducing flower. She denies Athena’s request to bring Odysseus home but does encourage him to remember what brought him to her in the first place. This could not come at a moment too soon as tensions raise in his kingdom for Penelope to select a new king. It is time for Odysseus to reign once more if he can make it back to Ithaca. Will he survive to return as husband, father, and king? Watch The Odyssey to find out!

I have no comments on The Odyssey but to sing its praises. The star studded cast was top tier and everyone was acting their hearts out. The cinematography? Moving. The scenery? Awe inspiring. The pacing? Chef’s kiss. Three hour movies can feel like they are dragging but The Odyssey plowed forward at such a rapid pace. The timing that Christopher Nolan created was spot on. Lulls in the story were instantly replaced by nonstop action and I was fully engrossed the entire time. In fact, it felt very similarly to watching a Lord Of The Rings movie, which was a delightful hit right in the nostalgia.

Christopher Nolan is a visionary and he guided his cast and crew with such care. The Odyssey is a HUGE story to tackle and everything about this movie felt so perfectly in place. I could tell that he put his heart and soul into making this movie and I could literally feel the tenderness with each passing scene. My favorite parts outside of all of the incredible performances was the cyclops and the visit to Circe’s island. Those parts were freaking crazy and I absolutely loved the way the cyclops looked. Honestly, I loved everything about this movie and would be more than happy to see it again. This is a flick that is a must see in theaters!!

I am going to award The Odyssey with the coveted ten out of ten stars. I seriously cannot recommend it enough and expect big things from it in the upcoming awards season!

What did you think about The Odyssey? What is your favorite lengthy movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug5

Lil Red’s Book Club: It Could Have Been Her By Lisa Jewell Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: It Could Have Been Her By Lisa Jewell Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing Lisa Jewell’s newest thriller called It Could Have Been Her. I am an avid fan of Lisa Jewell and thoroughly enjoyed the talk she did through the library systems last year. It was so cool to see one of my favorite authors on the computer screen answering questions from readers and talking about her writing process and upcoming projects. I was super excited to read her latest book and it did not disappoint. It Could Have Been Her was a wild ride! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning for child abuse, domestic abuse, sexual violence, and highly disturbing content. You ready? Let’s get to it!

Twice divorced Jane is in her mid fifties and lives a solitary life in her family’s crumbling estate located in the middle of nowhere. She doesn’t have much in the way of human company but she loves her four dogs more than life itself. As her and her pups take their daily walk, they come across a small white dog that Jane has never seen before. She takes him to the vet and learns from his microchip that the dog’s name is Hugo and lives in London. How did this little dog get all the way to her property? Although she would like to keep Hugo, she makes the trip to return him to his owner and is shocked by where he lives. In a home that will forever be seared into her memory as what could have been her final resting place when she was twenty-nine years old.

The man who answers the door is named Stuart Tucker and he is dodgy but appreciative that his dog is back. Shortly after Jane drops Hugo off, she receives a call from the vet who heard something strange from Jane’s closest neighbor. Hugo was with a girl who was renting a spare room in her house. She has left all of her belongings and is nowhere to be found. This piques Jane’s interest as she fancies herself an amateur sleuth and wants to crack the case. What happened to the girl who rented the room under the name Rose White?

Stuart Tucker is a keeper of secrets. He lives with his partner, Jessamine as well as her daughter Daisy and mother named Annie. Jessamine spent her childhood in a house of horrors and her life revolves around when she can have her next drink. Stuart dotes on Daisy because no one else will and waits on Annie as if he were a butler. All the while, he takes the verbal and physical abuse of Jessamine as she is prone to fits of rage. He knows something terrible happened in this house but does his best to avoid thinking about it. If he does, he might just run away for good even if that means leaving Daisy all alone.

Tucker knows that Jane is poking around with her detective work and his family’s downfall might be coming sooner than he thinks. And Jane doesn’t think, she knows that she is getting close to finding answers. Rose is somehow connected to the house that lives in her nightmares. If Jane finds her, she can come to terms with her own trauma and move on with her life. But will Jane really want to learn the answers to the questions that have lived rent free in her mind for over two decades? Read It Could Have Been Her to find out!

Let me just get this part out of the way: There were some parts of It Could Have Been Her that were really difficult to read. In fact, this is one of the most disturbing thrillers I have read in recent memory and I do not say that lightly. Having said that, this book was really REALLY good and might just be Lisa Jewell’s darkest novel yet. The plot of this book twisted and turned at a rapid pace and the beauty of it was that every twist made perfect sense. This was a delight after reading My Husband’s Wife where every reveal was meant to shock as opposed to moving the story forward. Lisa Jewell weaved a tale of inter generational trauma that infected everyone it touched and it was up to the characters in the story to pick up the broken pieces the best way they knew how.

For all of the macabre in It Could Have Been Her, it was balanced out by our lovely heroine Jane. This woman was an absolute joy with her quick wit, her loves for dogs, and the blinding pride she feels for all of her stepchildren. She was truly the bright light that this book needed as Jewell guided us through the depths of human depravity. Throughout the book, I could see her confidence grow and her world expand and it was exciting to read about her whole new lease on life. Because for her to move forward, she needs to confront her past. This is no easy feat for anyone and it will be impossible for you to not root for her every step of the way if you read this book!

Overall, I am going to rate It Could Have Been Her with an eight out of ten stars. This was exactly what I needed after reading the massive dud of My Husband’s Wife and further solidifies Lisa Jewell as one of my go to authors. Just read at your own discretion!

Who is your favorite author? Have you read any good thrillers recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug2

Lil Red’s Book Club: My Husband’s Wife By Alice Feeney Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: My Husband’s Wife By Alice Feeney Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing one of Alice Feeney’s newest books called My Husband’s Wife. When I began reading this book, I was most intrigued. Then, my tune changed drastically close to halfway through. I am telling you right here right now that My Husband’s Wife was the most far fetched garbage I have ever read lol and I encourage all of you to not waste your time on it. But, hey, that’s what these reviews are all about – for you to enjoy a book too or find something better! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on My Husband’s Wife for suicide, child abuse, cancer, and graphic crime scene descriptions. Let’s do this thing:

Eden and her husband Harrison have just moved to the famous Spyglass house in Hope Falls with the hopes of a fresh start. Harrison will continue to travel back to London as his business is booming and Eden will spend her time painting. In fact, she even has an exhibition at a gallery this very night. To clear her mind before the big event, she goes for a run and returns to Spyglass to shower, don a pretty dress, and show the world her art. She inserts her key into the lock and it doesn’t turn. Did Harrison change the locks while she was out? After pounding on the door, a woman answers and she looks a lot like Eden and Harrison is treating this mystery woman like his own wife. But Eden is Eden so who in the world is she?

Olivia Bird AKA Birdy lives a life of solitude and prefers the company of her dog, Sunday, to almost all people. Birdy is also harboring a secret. Her body is riddled with tumors and she does not have long to live. Before she passes, there are loose ends to tie in Hope Falls as her grandma left Spyglass to her in her will. Bird visits the home once before putting it on the market and it is quickly purchased by Eden and Harrison. Her task is done but her life’s trajectory will soon call her back to Hope Falls, a place that she only vaguely remembers from her childhood.

Hope Falls is one of the safest places to live and the small town only has one police officer named Carter. A promotion to become head detective hangs over his head but it is snatched up by a more decorated person on the force. Their arrival couldn’t have come at a better time as a body has washed up on the shore and it looks a lot like Eden. The real or fake one is yet to be determined as the body is badly disfigured. Whoever this person is, there is a murder to solve and every new piece of information leaves the officers even more confused. Was the death of the unidentified person a case of suicide? Or was it part of a sinister plot to both bury and avenge the past? *Don’t* read My Husband’s Wife to find out!

My Husband’s Wife started out with a bang. The changed locks, an identity crisis, the the introduction of the elusive Olivia Bird. I was loving it as I worked my way through the first one hundred and twenty pages or so and then this book took a drastic turn and not in a good way. The relative simplicity of the plot that was being established began to turn so convoluted and each discovery in the investigation seemed more unlikely than the next. Now, don’t get me wrong. I completely understand that the thrillers I enjoy reading are far fetched but My Husband’s Wife was just too much. Each passing plot twist upped the ante in ridiculousness that it was almost humorous if it wasn’t all so dumb lol.

The sad thing about this book is that it did start out so strong and I had a fondness for Olivia Bird. She was truly the only saving grace in My Husband’s Wife with her cool attitude, dry wit, and sleeves of tattoos. I really did like reading about her but that wasn’t enough to salvage this utter train wreck. As you all know, I fancy myself an amateur detective and revel in figuring out grand reveals. It’s a game I play every time I read but My Husband’s Wife was so lackluster that I didn’t even care to try. And that’s really saying something!!

I am going to bestow zero out of ten stars upon My Husband’s Wife. If you are looking for a twisty thriller, check out Freida McFadden’s latest books because this one is SO not it!

What is your favorite thriller? What are your thoughts on My Husband’s Wife? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul29

Lil Red’s Book Club: Dear Debbie By Freida McFadden Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: Dear Debbie By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing one of Freida McFadden’s newest books called Dear Debbie. Freida McFadden is a hit or miss author for me. Some of her books are great, others leave a lot to be desired and I feel like there is no middle ground. Her books are either good or bad lol. However, her most recent thrillers have hit hard – so much so that I finished Dear Debbie in one day! I just couldn’t put it down! Before we begin our discussion, I will be placing a trigger warning on Dear Debbie for sexual assault (one instance involving minors), graphic violence, and disturbing content. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Debbie gives great advice but she never necessarily takes her own. She is the voice of “Dear Debbie” in the local newspaper and does her best to point lonely or sad housewives in the right direction. Her own direction these days? Aimless. Her husband, Cooper, pulls disappearing acts during the evening and there is something going wrong with her teenage daughters that she is completely in the dark about. Debbie’s life wasn’t supposed to be this way. She was a promising student at MIT until an incident happened that made her academic dreams crash and burn. So she became a wife, a mother, and every day since the incident has left her feeling inadequate.

The only thing Debbie really has going for her is Dear Debbie and she enjoys her work. She takes pride in encouraging others to make a change but in one article, her advice goes too far in the eyes of the editor. A woman wrote to Debbie about the financial restraints her husband constricts her to and Debbie advised her to get a divorce. That did not fly for the family friendly publication and Debbie loses her job. Now, Debbie has nothing left to lose and decides to start righting the wrongs in her life.

Her targets are the people who do wrong for the sake of doing it. People who have made her daughters cry. Someone who is standing in the way of her husband’s promotion at his job. The snarky housewives who simply tolerate Debbie’s existence. But this is all child’s play because Debbie is working up to the number one person on her list. The person who derailed her life when her future could have been so vastly different. Debbie is going full on vigilante and there is nothing that can stop her now that her mission has begun. Who will suffer her wrath? Read Dear Debbie to find out!

It has been a while since I read a twisty thriller as I was working through a few palette cleanser books. Dear Debbie scratched that itch and then some! This book was a fast paced tale of revenge and what happens when a woman has had enough. For over twenty years, Debbie lived with her secret and shame and her getting fired from the newspaper was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It was absolutely delicious to read about this “super mom” getting more unhinged with each passing page and I genuinely had no idea what she was going to do or say next. It is rare that I finish a book in one day but this one was just that good.

One of my complaints with Frieda McFadden’s work has been her twists. In her earlier books, they seem to be placed so haphazardly with the point of shocking rather than making complete sense. It always left me feeling disappointed because better options were out there and weren’t being used. Her most recent books are so much more concise with grand reveals that actually feel plausible and tie the story line in a bow rather than leave the reader scratching their heads over the frayed edges. The twists in Dear Debbie were shocking, for sure, but they also kept the story moving along and kept me turning the pages until there were none left.

Overall, I am going to rate Dear Debbie with an eight out of ten stars. Freida McFadden has definitely moved up on my radar and I cannot wait to read what she writes next!

What are you currently reading? What is your favorite Frieda McFadden book? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul24

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Insomniacs By Allison Winn Scotch Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: The Insomniacs By Allison Winn Scotch Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing a fun mystery by Allison Winn Scotch called The Insomniacs. Although this book lacked the dishy, often violent twists of my usual mystery thrillers, it more than made up for it in charm, humor, and a cast of characters that are impossible not to love. The Insomniacs is a quick read and I truly think that anyone will find something that they enjoy in it. I sure did! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Insomniacs for abuse in a cult setting. You ready? Let’s go!

Julian, Zeke, Sybil, and Betty couldn’t be more different from each other. Julian is a retired man in his sixties, Zeke is a professional baseball player, Sybil is a middle aged empty nester, and Betty is a young twenty something just trying to find her way. However, they all have one thing in common – they are each full blown insomniacs. To pass the time at night, Julian, Zeke, and Sybil joined an insomniacs message board to chat with other people who run on no sleep. They formed a connection, learned they were close to each other in New York City, and decided to turn their communications online into a real life meeting.

As per Julian’s suggestion, the trio meets at a diner late at night where Betty is working the night shift as a waitress. They invite her into their group and the trio turns into a quartet that very night. As The Insomniacs continue to gather, they all agree that their lack of sleep is caused by problems in their lives that seem unsolvable. So they put their heads together and try to improve their issues with new approaches. Although they are pretty lousy at problem solving, the group enjoys each other’s company and text constantly, have holiday get togethers, and plenty of random pop bys.

The Insomniacs have, indeed, found their people but that is all about to come crumbling down. Gentle curmudgeon, Julian, has been killed in a hit and run and Betty is nowhere to be found. The quartet has dropped to two in a matter of hours and it is up to Zeke and Sybil to uncover what happened to Julian and find Betty. True crime enthusiast, Sybil takes the reigns on their investigation only to find that her and Zeke had no clue who their friends were in the first place. Betty hasn’t been seen for weeks and they believe that their time to bring her home safely is running out. Will Sybil and Zeke crack the case? And just who were Betty and Julian? Read The Insomniacs to find out!

I absolutely love an unlikely friendship book so, of course, I delighted in The Insomniacs. There is something that’s so exciting to me about perfect strangers coming together, getting to know each other, and then being thrown into a crazy adventure. And it doesn’t get much crazier than two people trying to solve a murder and a missing person case! The Insomniacs was a fluff read and I fully admit that. It was, honestly, so far fetched that it almost bordered on being silly. But did I keep turning the pages? Yes, yes, and YES and I finished it in three sittings because it was just fun.

Allison Winn Scotch crafted this book with striking imagery, hilarious one liners, and just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Where her writing shined the most was in her creation of the sleepless characters because they seemed so accessible. I could find similarities between myself or people I know in Zeke, Julian, Sybil, and Betty and each of them felt like friends rather than made up people in a story. I shared in their laughs, frustration, sorrows, and success and it hit hard despite all of the fluff. I am confident that anyone who reads The Insomniacs will see themselves in this rag tag friend group too!

Overall, I am going to rate The Insomniacs with an eight out of ten stars. This is not a book that I would normally pick out for myself but I am sure glad that I read it!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul19

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Burning Side By Sarah Damoff Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: The Burning Side By Sarah Damoff Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a novel by Sarah Damoff called The Burning Side. It has been a while since my last book club review as I have been addicted to playing Pokopia! However, when I managed to peel myself away I was able to finish The Burning Side in three sittings. This sentimental read was quite short at three hundred and twenty pages but it definitely packed a punch right in the feels. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Burning Side for Alzheimer’s, a house fire, and loss of a child. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Despite their two beautiful children, April and Leo’s marriage has been on the rocks for a long time. After having both children, April suffered from postpartum depression and Leo began to pull away. He spent less time at home, countless hours at work, and left April to her own devices. In her loneliness, April made a bad decision and that was the straw that broke the marriage’s back. As April prepares dinner, Leo tells her he wants a divorce. In her shock, April forgets to turn the oven off and hours later their home burns to the ground.

Homeless and on the verge of divorce, April, Leo, and their kids move in with April’s parents, Deb and Billy. It will be a full house as her two siblings, Josie and Cameron will be there too. Although the situation is grim, everyone loves spending time at Deb and Billy’s and their marriage looks picture perfect from the outside. But, like April and Leo’s marriage, Billy is deteriorating too. He has recently been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s and the disease is progressing rapidly. In April’s childhood home, everyone begins adjusting to their new normal of a marriage falling apart, an increasingly confused father, and what moving forward looks like in the wakes of tragedy.

As the days pass, April and Leo speak minimally and focus their attention on salvaging anything from the remains of their home. What April wants to salvage the most is their marriage but Leo is just not there yet and the divorce will proceed. At the home front, Billy has been getting lost and and confusing his grandchildren for his own kids. As their worlds continue to crash down, a chance encounter and a difficult decision could be what is needed to get everyone back on a steady course. What will become of Deb and Billy? And will April and Leo be able to heal the rift that has broken their marriage apart? Read The Burning Side to find out!

The Burning Side was a lot different than the dishy thrillers I normally read but I liked it a lot and it was a nice change of pace. This book focused on themes of family, sacrifice, and coming together during hardships all wrapped into a riveting story line that kept me invested until the very end. And that ending? Wow! Although some of the subject matter in The Burning Side was heartbreaking to read, it was uplifting to see April, her soon to be ex husband, and entire family trying to handle things in the best way they know how. And, ultimately, growing through changing approaches and perspectives.

While The Burning Side primarily focused on Leo and April’s points of view, it also shifted from time to time to Deb. It was SO sad to experience her agony of watching Billy fade and the way she handled it was inspiring. In her sorrow, she was still able to turn this massive blow into something beautiful by creating new memories and gently brushing off Billy’s bouts of confusion. It was such a testament to true love and was able to open the eyes of everyone in the family about what’s really important. Because, at the end of the day, if you have each other – you have it all.

I am going to rate The Burning Side with an eight out of ten stars. This was a palette cleanser read that was most enjoyable and refreshing. I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t ready for another dishy thriller, though!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul9

Groovy Movies: Toy Story 5 Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Groovy Movies: Toy Story 5 Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies. In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing Toy Story 5! There is nothing better than going to the movies with my nieces and Johnny, my brother, and I were chomping at the bit to take them to Toy Story 5. Toy Story was a franchise that I could have taken or left but it was Johnny and my brother’s absolute favorite. After this past weekend, however, I am a huge fan and even watched the two that I have never seen, Toy Story 3 and 4. I laughed, I cried, and enjoyed my three movie Toy Story extravaganza so much! In fact, I would happily see the fifth one again in theaters! Let’s discuss:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

Bonnie is eight years old now and loves to play with her toys – especially Jessie! With her vivid imagination, she creates the most wonderful stories for her crew of toys that were gifted to her by Andy when he left for college. The only problem? Bonnie doesn’t have any friends to share in play time with her. All she wants is to play with her neighbors but she just doesn’t know how to do that and it breaks her parents’ hearts. In an attempt to get Bonnie to have more friends, they get her the latest hot new toy – the Lilypad. It is a frog shaped tablet for kids where you can play learning games and chat away with your friend group. Bonnie promptly becomes addicted to the high tech toy and her real toys fall by the wayside.

Jessie and Lilypad clearly have different ideas of what it means to make friends. While Jessie chastises Lilypad for not helping children make connections, Lily shows her up. She friends three girls from Bonnie’s dance class and she is immediately invited to a sleepover from the device. Bonnie is ecstatic and packs her suitcase with her clothes, Jessie and Bullseye, and Lilypad too. However, as soon as she arrives at the slumber party with her two favorite toys, the girls begin to mock Bonnie for still playing with them. Rather than stand up for herself, Bonnie gives her dolls back to her dad and the girls spend the remainder of their evening on their Lilypad tablets.

Jessie and Bullseye aren’t going to stand for this and manage to escape before being taken back home. Unfortunately, they are going to have a long journey as an elderly couple finds them, sees the address of Jessie’s old owner, and takes them back to that location. Jessie’s old owner no longer lives at this home and they meet a family with a young daughter named Blaze instead. And Blaze? She could be the perfect friend for Bonnie because she still loves to play with her toys too! All Jessie needs to do is get them to meet.

This is going to be no easy feat in this unfamiliar location with strange new toys and Jessie is going to need all of the help she can get… Even if it comes from tech. Through the help of long forgotten tech toys from Blaze’s youth, the plan to get Bonnie and Blaze to be friends is a go. And, of course, Jessie is so eager to get back to Bonnie – her best friend in the world. Will Jessie and her new companions finally get Bonnie to have a friend that she deserves? Watch Toy Story 5 to find out!

From start to finish, Toy Story 5 was an absolute joy. The story of a little girl who wants nothing more than to make friends is enough to tug at anyone’s heartstrings. I don’t know about all of you, but I have felt like Bonnie in my youth and even as an adult, creating a character that is perfectly relatable to any age group. And, of course, the toys versus tech dilemma that children of this generation face was such a smart story line choice because we see it every day – kids on phones and tablets rather than playing with an action figure or riding bikes. Toy Story 5 truly encouraged everyone to get back to using their imagination and playing the day away.

If you are a seasoned fan of Toy Story 5 you will surely love this flick. And, even if you’re like me and haven’t seen all of them, you are still going to love this flick because of the themes it covers. I enjoyed every minute of this movie and then some. It was hilarious, heartwarming, tear jerking, and packed with adventure. In fact, I think Johnny, my brother, and I liked it even more than the children in the audience. We were definitely the ones who were laughing the loudest and it was just the best time!

I am going to award Toy Story 5 with the coveted ten out of ten stars. It is a must see for ages young and old and you are in for such a huge treat!

What is your favorite Toy Story movie? Who is your favorite character from the movies (I love Jessie!)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul5

Lil Red’s Book Club: Remarkably Bright Creatures By Shelby Van Pelt Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: Remarkably Bright Creatures By Shelby Van Pelt Edition

Hi everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing a delightfully charming read by Shelby Van Pelt called Remarkably Bright Creatures. After reading an incredibly disappointing installment to the Stillhouse Lake series, I decided to give it a rest and move onto something new. My mom had just finished reading Remarkably Bright Creatures and watching the movie and I thought that it would be a nice palette cleanser. It most definitely was and I enjoyed it so much! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Remarkably Bright Creatures for loss of a child and addiction. You ready? Let’s go!

Tova is a no nonsense seventy year old woman who has had a life filled with loss. Her solitary days are spent completing her rigid routines and then it is off to the Sowell Bay Aquarium for the evening where she works as a custodian. Tova deeply enjoys the work of restoring the aquarium to a perfect state of cleanliness every night and being surrounded by the sea creatures. Every night at the aquarium is the same as the last until her normal routine flips on its head. The aquarium’s Giant Pacific Octopus, Marcellus, has made a jail break from his enclosure and found himself tangled in electric cords. Tova saves him and a very unique friendship is formed. A friendship that will change her perspective and bring closure to the tragedies that she can’t move past.

Cameron is thirty years old and has lived his life permanently down on his luck. His mother abandoned him when he was young with no inkling as to who his father is and his aunt turned into his guardian. From there, his life seems to serve no purpose and he has no motivation to improve it. He is promptly fired from every menial job he acquires, his band broke up, and all of his friends are getting married and having babies. Something drastic needs to happen, but what?

After begrudgingly refiling through some of his mom’s old high school mementos, Cameron stumbles upon a photo of her and a young man as well as a class ring engraved with unfamiliar initials. This person has to be his father and he is going to track him down, make him explain himself, and demand eighteen years worth of unpaid child support. His findings lead him to Sowell Bay, a long haul from his own home. When he reaches his destination, he learns that his potential dad is much harder to meet with than anticipated. The promise of all of that cash makes him stick around and he eventually lands a job at the Sowell Bay Aquarium too.

Through Tova and Cameron’s employment, an unlikely friendship is struck. Cameron thinks Tova is a little weird because of her affection for the octopus, Marcellus. In fact, it almost seems like they communicate with each other and Cameron just can’t wrap his head around it. That’s okay, though, because while Cameron thinks Tova is weird, she thinks he can’t clean properly to save his own life. Little do both of these people know, Marcellus is aware of something that will change both of their lives for the better. All he has to do is make them realize it. What could this secret be? Read Remarkably Bright Creatures to find out!

Reading Remarkably Bright Creatures was a gift. This book was hilarious, heartwarming, and so tenderly written by Shelby Van Pelt. I could tell that every single word was crafted with such care and it reminded me a lot of the writing style of Fredrik Backman who wrote A Man Called Ove and My Friends. This is a style that I really respond to and I fell for Remarkably Bright Creatures hook, line, and sinker. Van Pelt’s expert writing made it feel like I knew every character personally and what a remarkable cast it was as it went round Robin between Tova, Cameron, and Marcellus. It was such an interesting change of pace to read from the perspective of Marcellus – my favorite!

For all of the sadness that plagued the characters in this book, there was still so much joy to be found. The joy of new acquaintances, breaking free from strict routines, and the cast learning that they are stronger than they ever gave themselves credit for. It was so exciting to read about Tova coming out of her shell, Cameron growing out of his man child status, and Marcellus ingeniously moving the plot along. Remarkably Bright Creatures is a testament to the beauty that can be found in life if you know where to look. It might just be under the statue of a sea lion. 🙂

I am going to award Remarkably Bright Creatures with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This was a beautiful read that will captivate and inspire and I can’t wait to watch the movie!

Did you read Remarkably Bright Creatures or watch the movie? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun17

Lil Red’s Book Club: Bitter Falls By Rachel Caine Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: Bitter Falls By Rachel Caine Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing the fourth book in the Stillhouse Lake series by Rachel Caine called Bitter Falls. I have been trudging through the Stillhouse Lake series with palette cleansers between each book and, I have to admit, I am a little bit over it lol. This seven book series is growing more ridiculous and, frankly, unbelievable with every turn of the page. However, I refuse to not finish the series so onward and upward, I suppose! Before we begin out chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on Bitter Falls for physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, highly disturbing content, and graphic violence. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Life for Gwen Proctor, Lanny, Connor, and Sam Cade has, blessedly, been more low key than in recent memory. Sam is getting steady construction work, Gwen is now working as a private investigator, and the family participates in solo and group therapy sessions. Unfortunately, this peaceful interlude at Stillhouse Lake is short lived. Lanny and Connor are struggling in school and Gwen makes the decision to home school them after a scary indecent during an active shooter drill. It’s no secret that the Proctors have never been welcome in Stillhouse Lake and school kids are the least of Gwen’s worries. The powerful drug family, the Belldenes have declared war on Gwen and her family with a warning. Leave the town to get the constant newscasters and lookie loos away so their crimes can continue to fall under wraps or the Belldenes will remove them themselves.

The Proctors can’t stay in Stillhouse Lake under constant threat of the Belldenes but, luckily, Gwen has been assigned to a new case. The three year old cold case of a missing college kid named Remy. He was out at a bar with friends, got separated, and was never seen or heard from again. Although Gwen is hesitant to take the kids and Sam along to begin working the case, she has no other options and the family hits the road. Gwen has no expectations of finding Remy alive but it is her job to find answers for his parents. What she uncovers is way more than she ever bargained for.

After some good old fashioned detective work, Gwen learns that Remy was spending time with a young woman named Carol. He told his parents that he met her at church and was helping her. When Gwen eventually tracks Carol down through their old church, she finds that Remy was, indeed, a knight in shining armor. Remy had helped Carol escape from a cult, he disappeared, and Carol has been on the run from the members of the cult ever since. If Gwen wants any hope of finding Remy dead or alive, she must first infiltrate the cult. But how? In a shocking turn, Gwen will end up on the compound in a situation that is out of her worst nightmares. What happens next? Read Bitter Falls to find out!

Sigh… Where to begin with Bitter Falls? Here’s the thing… I thoroughly enjoy the core four cast of Gwen, Lanny, Connor, and Sam. And, you all know me, I love a twisty thriller more than the average bear. The difference is, I love a twisty thriller that has a real world plot. While the first three books of the Stillhouse Lake series were far fetched, I still found them to be worthwhile reads. But Bitter Falls was like the plot of an insane action movie on steroids and not even a good one. Rachel Caine threw in every crazy plot point but the kitchen sink and absolutely none of them stuck. The cult, the feud with the Belldenes, the podcast?! It was like a never ending litany of shock value plots that held little substance whatsoever.

I know I said that I refuse to not finish the Stillhouse Lake series and I’d like to redact that statement. I will read the fifth book, Heartbreak Bay. If it is as bad as Bitter Falls, I will be done. If Rachel Caine manages to turn it around, I will proceed. I feel slightly hopeful that Heartbreak Bay will be better because a big part of me does want to see what happens next. But I just can’t justify sacrificing my reading time to wildly subpar books. Bitter Falls definitely had me questioning why the Stillhouse Lake series needed seven books as well as Rachel Caine’s judgement lol. It was a massive dud!

Overall, I am going to rate Bitter Falls with a two out of ten stars. This was a most lackluster read and I would honestly recommend stopping the series at Wolfhunter River. Whomp whomp!

What are you currently reading? What did you think about the Stillhouse Lake series? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun8

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Divorce By Freida McFadden Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: The Divorce By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing one of Freida McFadden’s most recent thrillers called The Divorce. Freida McFadden books are very hit or miss for me. Some are pretty good and some just actively suck lol. However, I really enjoyed The Divorce and it was a welcome palette cleanser after reading the second installment of the Stillhouse Lake series. It was easily one of the best Frieda McFadden books I have read in recent memory! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Divorce for violence, disturbing content, addiction, and mental illness. You ready? Let’s get to it!

Naomi lives a picture perfect life. She is a stay at home mom to her darling son, Teddy, while her husband, Jeremy, works hard and makes lots of money as a hedge fund manager. Although Jeremy’s schedule is erratic and he is constantly on call for his posh clients, he is an excellent father and is always home to put Teddy to bed. They are truly a happy family and life is good. Until the rug gets swept under Naomi’s feet. Jeremy tells her that he wants a divorce and that Teddy should stay in his home while Naomi lives in a tiny apartment.

How could her picture perfect life go so terribly, terribly wrong in the blink of an eye? Naomi tries to ignore the fact that there could be another woman involved and makes many attempts to talk to Jeremy but he just doesn’t want to listen. So, Naomi takes matters into her own hands and makes a late night house call to her former home where her worst nightmare is confirmed. Jeremy is seeing someone else and she is beautiful and very young. Then, things start to go downhill and fast.

As their divorce mediation begins, Naomi’s mental health deteriorates rapidly while Jeremy and his girlfriend, Ronnie’s, love blossoms. Jeremy has introduced Ronnie to Teddy and they are even planning a big birthday bash for him while Naomi flounders to earn full custody. Naomi is convinced that if she could just speak to Jeremy then she will win him back and Ronnie will be a thing of the past. He has made it clear that this is not an option and now her attention is fully on Ronnie. If she can’t have her husband back then why should Ronnie have him either?

The divorce is getting messy and Naomi believes that Ronnie is a threat to her and her family’s safety as she begins to experience strange and dangerous behavior. Ronnie attempted to poison her. Ronnie calls her at all hours making threats. Ronnie wants to get rid of Teddy so she can have Jeremy all to herself. But who is tormenting who? One of Jeremy’s primary concerns of Naomi as a parent is her mental instability. Is he just painting her in a poor light or is she really as unhinged as he claims? Someone in this love triangle is not being truthful. Read The Divorce to find out who!

The Divorce was an ultra quick read and I finished it in three sittings because I just couldn’t put it down! It is rare that I find myself truly excited about a Freida McFadden book because they always fall on an average or way below average scale for me. This is mainly because I figure out the grand reveals really quickly! I am pleased to report that I did not see the twist coming in The Divorce whatsoever and it really did put the thrill back into her thrillers for me. The Divorce had more twists and turns than the most intense of rollercoasters and all I could do was hang on tight and enjoy the ride.

What was so interesting about The Divorce was how I felt about the characters throughout it. Normally when I read a book, I have the characters who I like set in stone and that doesn’t falter. With every new surprise that this book offered, my opinions shifted until I didn’t even know what to think. I went from despising Ronnie to feeling sorry for her. From rooting for Naomi to fearful and rocking back and forth from “good for him” to “what the hell?” on Jeremy’s part. This made the delicious plot of The Divorce all that more enticing and made the grand reveal even more shocking. There is no solid ground in this book and it left my jaw on the floor until the final page!

I am going to award The Divorce with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This was an excellent thriller and it is hands down some of Freida McFadden’s best work which must be commended. Highly recommend!

What is your favorite Freida McFadden book? What are you currently reading? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah