Tag Archives: review

May1

April 2026 Finishes

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April 2026 Finishes

Hello everyone and happy May!! April in Ohio brought all of the showers so here’s to hoping for beautiful May flowers for all! Before we jump into this new month, let’s jump back slightly to discuss the beauty products I finished up in April. There weren’t too many but they were all very nice *Borat voice* and I would definitely use them again! You ready? Let’s get to it:

Would I Use Again?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: YES!!!!

Bath & Body Works Vampire Blood Body Cream: YES

Glow Elixir Hyaluronic & Retinol Serum: YES

Why/Why Not?

Evoluderm Micellar Water: I have been using the Evoluderm Micellar Water faithfully for I don’t even know how long and it is, hands down, the best I have ever used. It is so gentle and hydrating but so effective on makeup removal with no harsh scrubbing required. About a year or so ago, TJMaxx began carrying the mega bottles of Evoluderm and I always have to buy one when I see them. The last micellar water I used was completed in mid January and this bottle lasted me until the middle of April. That is fantastic value for every day use!

B&BW Body Cream: I loves me the B&BW body cream, however, I am happy that I finished my bottle of Vampire Blood up before the weather started heating up. I only wear lotion before bed and it can get rather stuffy in my apartment. The B&BW body cream is nice but it is SO heavy and makes me sweat like crazy when it is warm at chez nous in the evening. It’s a fantastic product and so nourishing but I like to swap to the classic and light B&BW lotion come the late spring and summer weather. It took two and a half weeks of once daily use to finish this bottle and, as always, Vampire Blood is their best Halloween scent. 😀

Glow Elixir Serum: I have been using my bottle of Glow Elixir Hyaluronic & Retinol serum since the end of February and just finished it a little over a week ago. That is awesome for twice daily use! This is the third or so time I have purchased this serum from TJs and I will continue to do so every time I see it. It is SO freaking nice! The Glow Elixir serum is thin and light but oh so hydrating and brightening too. My skin looks fresh and simply glows with every use and a little of it goes such a long way. A dime sized amount allows for full face and neck coverage and it is a perfect year round product. Highly recommend!

These April finishes were short and sweet but they all packed a punch. Definitely give any of these products a go if you see them in stores!

Which products did you use up this past month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr25

Bath & Body Works April Freebie

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Bath & Body Works April Freebie

Hi! When my sister and I went to New Orleans, I was genuinely shocked that I didn’t have a travel size shower gel from Bath & Body Works to bring with me. I thought my bath and body care hoard was much better stocked than that and it sucked having to use the products provided by the hotel. It was impossible to feel clean with the awkward combo of bar soap and shampoo I had to use! Because my family is going to Italy this year, I made damn sure that I got a travel size body wash for my March freebie from B&BW. I also went ahead and got another one this month in case my mom needed to share. Like my selection in March, I went for a classic B&BW scent that I never bothered trying before. Check it out:

Once again, the travel size options I had to pick from were slim to none at B&BW and In The Stars was literally all they had for shower gels. Since my choice was made for me, I didn’t even smell it so let’s give it a whiff in real time lol. Here we go… And it is pretty good! Actually, upon another sniff it is actually really nice. In The Stars features fragrance notes of (get ready for it because it’s a doozy) “Starflower, sandalwood musk, sugared tangelo, white agarwood, and radiant amber”. Whatever any of that means! Does anyone know what a tangelo is?!

The little scent story on Bath & Body Works’ website says that In The Stars is a warm fragrance that feels like you’re in the middle of the forest. However, I feel like I’m in the middle of the ocean with this scent! In The Stars smells crisp and clean to the point that I would classify it as an aquatic scent and I am SO not mad about that. I absolutely love an aquatic fragrance and it definitely doesn’t translate to the fragrance notes or scent story whatsoever. Isn’t it weird how scents smell different to every single person? I can’t stand a musky fragrance and would have despised In The Stars if it smelled true to its notes to me. Thankfully that wasn’t the case and I would happily get it again. 🙂

What will In The Stars smell like to you? Who’s to say? Lol but I’m incredibly curious to find out!

What is a scent that you love that other people hate? What is your go to B&BW fragrance? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr20

If The Shoe Fits: Shein Wedges Edition

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If The Shoe Fits: Shein Wedges Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of If The Shoe Fits! My family is attending a wedding in May and I was hoping to find a new dress for it the last time my mom and I went to TJMaxx. I did find a dress and it was perfect. However, it was much too big and that was the only available size. When I got home I scoured the internet to find the dress and order it. The only one I could find was on Poshmark for a whopping seventy dollars and that was a definite no go. I did end up finding a look alike on Shein and it worked great! I also couldn’t resist ordering these funky wedges on the cheap. Check them out:

^^^ Still confused about this clasp. Help!!

When it comes to shoes for spring and summer, I like unique wedges and platforms that I can just slip on and go. These wedges from Shein really caught my eye because I loves me a chunky heel and that olive green color is so cool! This was my first time ordering anything off of Shein and, honestly, I don’t plan on doing it again but I just needed that dress. I can’t wait to show you all! Of course, with any fast fashion website quality is always the concern and these wedges were very average. They’re sturdy enough to feel comfortable but do I anticipate them lasting longer than this summer? Hard no. Will I be wearing them until they fall apart? Absolutely!

Quality aside, I like everything about these wedges. Except for one thing… How in the HECK are you supposed to attach the straps?! I have never seen anything like it before and it is essentially a clasp and a buckle. It’s a major head scratcher for sure! The only thing I could figure was to put the clasp right in the middle of the buckle because that was the only way to keep it together. Or is it? I have no idea! When I discovered this anomaly I immediately went to the reviews to see if other people mentioned it and literally no one did. I’m not sure if I got a dud or what but I guess the buckle clasp method is how I will wear these shoes.

You truly never know what you are going to get on a website like Shein. I was expecting minimal quality but not expecting the challenge of attaching ankle straps SMH!

Does anyone have any idea what do to about these straps? Have you ordered off of Shein before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr16

Groovy Movies: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Edition

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Groovy Movies: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Edition

Howdy! This past weekend we had a fun afternoon out with our nieces to see The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. We watched the first one when it came out with our biggest niece and we all loved it so we were most excited! Although I liked the first one a bit better than the sequel, it was still a hoot. The Mario Galaxy games are my favorite so it was way cool to see it on the big screen! In a spoiler free setting, as always, let’s discuss this family friendly flick:

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

Princess Rosalina lives up in the stars and is mom to the adorable Lumas that reside there. They are colorful, silly little stars and their world revolves around the princess. However, their world is turned upside down when Bowser Jr. kidnaps her to drain her power and have the Bowser family reign supreme. Princess Rosalina always told her Lumas to find Princess Peach if anything were to ever happen to her and that is exactly what one brave Luma does. The Luma travels far and wide to reach the Mushroom Kingdom to request help from Princess Peach and she agrees while leaving the Kingdom in the care of Mario, Luigi, and a new Yoshi friend too.

Of course, Bowser is still tiny but has changed a lot for the better. In his little castle he paints pictures, cooks soup, and trims bonsai trees. His son, Bowser Jr., misses him fiercely and just wants to make his old man proud. So he attempts to free him from Princess Peach’s castle. The plan is a bust, but it puts Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, and Bowser on the path to reunite with Princess Peach in space. All they need is a space ship!

Thanks to a delightful cameo by Fox McCloud, the heroes arrive in the Space Junk Galaxy to defeat Bowser Jr. and foil his plot to create an all destroying cannon with Rosalina’s power. Their problems have doubled, though, as Bowser was so inspired by his son that he returned to the dark side once more. If the canon is created, the Bowsers will have complete power over any and everything. Will Princess Peach save Princess Rosalina? And will our heroes defeat Bowser and Son? Watch The Super Mario Galaxy Movie to find out!

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was a short and sweet flick that was barely over an hour and a half. In that short time, it was jam packed with a whole lot of fun! The visuals were striking, the Lumas were the literal cutest, and who doesn’t love Yoshi?! There were plenty of quick witted jokes, nods to games of the past, and wonderful cameos by beloved characters. Mr. Game And Watch, anyone? There was just one thing that Johnny and I could not get behind…

Why, exactly, was Chris Pratt cast as Mario? Especially when the voice actors for Mario in the games are both living and available? It truly makes no sense to us lol. Not only does Chris Pratt actively suck as a person but his voice work for Mario was just not it. Pratt’s vocal acting did absolutely nothing for us and it weighed the whole movie down. That was our opinion for the first Mario movie too and our sentiments have only amplified. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was a total blast and the overall casting decisions were great. Just not this one.

Overall, I am going to rate The Super Mario Galaxy Movie with a six out of ten Lumas. It was a solid sequel but was definitely one that you could take or leave.

Have you seen the Mario movies? What did you think about them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr11

Lil Red’s Book Club: Listen For The Lie By Amy Tintera Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Listen For The Lie By Amy Tintera 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 an excellent thriller by Amy Tintera called Listen For The Lie. This book went back and forth between the past, present day, and a true crime podcast which I really liked. It actually reminded me a bit of None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell if you have read that one before! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Listen For The Lie for domestic violence and murder. You ready? Let’s get to it!

Lucy doesn’t think she killed her best friend Savannah (Savvy), but she doesn’t know for sure. All she remembers from that night five years ago is being found in the middle of the road by a good Samaritan, injured, and covered in her best friend’s blood. The rest is a complete blank for Lucy but that’s no matter because according to everyone in her small town, she is guilty regardless of if there wasn’t enough evidence for a conviction. After Savvy’s death, Lucy hightailed it to L.A. and never looked back. But, now, she must return back to Nowhere, Texas for her grandma’s birthday. Although Lucy can’t stand her parents, she loves her grandma despite the guilt trip she laid on her to attend her party.

An eightieth birthday bash isn’t the only thing waiting for Lucy in Texas. In fact, it is everything that Lucy never wanted to happen. A popular podcast called Listen For The Lie has taken an interest in Savvy’s cold case. During the show’s first season the host, Ben, solved an unsolvable case and is looking to repeat his success in Texas. Ben is going into this experience from a neutral position. Maybe Lucy killed Savvy. Maybe she didn’t. But, if Lucy didn’t, he is determined to find out who and leaves no stone unturned.

As Ben conducts his own investigation, he talks to anyone and everyone. Lucy’s grandma, Savvy’s family, Lucy’s high school best friend, and even her monstrous ex husband. And, after some convincing and a nudge from her grandma, Ben interviews Lucy too. Lucy is not much help at first. She can’t remember a thing about Savvy’s death and she is keeping her late friend’s secrets even though it could benefit her. Then, bits and pieces of that fateful night begin to form. Fragments start out as fuzzy and in a moment of shocking clarity, she knows exactly who the guilty party is. Who is responsible for Savvy’s death? Read Listen For The Lie to find out!

I really, really enjoyed Listen For The Lie and it was a wonderful change of pace from Gone Before Goodbye, the last book I finished. While the latter moved at an often agonizing speed, Listen For The Lie was fast paced from start to finish. In fact, it was so good that I finished it in two sittings. The way this book sprinted forward, I just had to keep up with it! Listen For The Lie featured shocking twists and turns, a fascinating plot, and a huge tip of the cap to the true crime podcast fandom. I loved reading the podcast portion at the end of almost every chapter and it was a huge motivation to keep on reading!

The best part of this book, however, was Lucy herself. She is my kind of leading lady and I could not get enough of her. Lucy was sarcastic, freaking hilarious, and a take no shit kind of girl. Her attitude was that people were going to stare at her and talk about her so let them. If they think she killed her friend, let them. It had no impact on her whatsoever and her only goal was to help solve Savvy’s case, even if she ended up in jail. She was so easy to root for and while her feisty spirit was all well and good, her fleeting moments of tenderness helped solidify her as one of my favorite main characters to date. She will have you laughing out loud and cheering her on too – I just know it.

Overall, I am going to award Listen For The Lie with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This thriller was a blast and will leave you guessing whodoneit the whole way through. Highly recommend!

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

Apr10

Glow Hub Nourish & Hydrate Gel Moisturizer Review

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Glow Hub Nourish & Hydrate Gel Moisturizer Review

Hello! It took me a solid two plus months to finish the moisturizer I was using and I am finally onto something new. For the past week and change, I have started using the Glow Hub Nourish & Hydrate Moisturizer and it has been a revelation. I have literally never used a moisturizer like this one before and I just had to share it with all of you. If you are looking for baby soft skin and the most radiant glow, then you have got to try this Glow Hub one out. The moisturizer definitely lives up to the brand name! Let’s discuss further:

There are so many things that I love about this moisturizer but let’s start with the texture. Can you see the bubbles in it? SO satisfying! Gel moisturizers are my absolute favorite and I can’t get enough of the hydrating burst I feel when I use them. The Glow Hub moisturizer is, hands down, the best gel texture I have ever used. It is the bounciest, lightest formula and it sounds weird but it almost feels like rubbing jelly on your face? Lol as soon as I start applying it, I can slightly feel the moisturizer crackling on my skin in fizzy delight and it is so invigorating. It’s a bubbly blast of cool, hydrating magic!

Not only does the texture of this moisturizer amaze me, but the scent does too. It is infused with peach and coconut but all I can smell is the peach. I am so not mad about this because anything peach scented is my favorite! The Glow Hub moisturizer smells exactly like a fresh bit peach and it’s honestly an experience to use it between its fragrance and the fizz. After just one use of this product, it was like a transformation. My skin looked fresh, bright, and clean and felt soft as can be. I genuinely can’t recall ever using a moisturizer with such immediate and apparent results. If I ever see this bad boy again at TJMaxx, I am buying Every. Single. Jar. Available. It is that good.

Gel moisturizers are perfect for spring and summer and the Glow Hub Nourish & Hydrate Moisturizer is perfect in general. Highly recommend!

What is your favorite skin care brand? How about your favorite moisturizer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr7

Lil Red’s Book Club: Gone Before Goodbye By Reese Witherspoon And Harlan Coben Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Gone Before Goodbye By Reese Witherspoon And Harlan Coben 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 thriller called Gone Before Goodbye cowritten by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben. This book revolved around a top secret mission that was a definite change of pace from my normal Lifetime Movie books and it was actually pretty good! I wouldn’t say it’s the best book I ever read but it held my attention from start to finish because it was just so different from what I usually read. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Gone Before Goodbye for combat missions, graphic violence, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Former Doctor Maggie McCabe is down on her luck big time. Her beloved husband, Marc, was killed during a humanitarian medical mission and life has been spiraling rapidly since. A pill addiction caused her to lose her license and she is currently living with her sister while they each face crippling debt. Then, an opportunity falls into her lap that is too good to say no to. Evan Barlow, her old mentor requested that he pay her a visit at his ultra luxe cosmetic surgery office so he could offer her a job. One that is a little unorthodox but it would completely eliminate her family’s debt and relieve her of her medical malpractice suit. All she has to do is go to Russia and perform surgeries on a rich and powerful man and his girlfriend, ensure their stability after surgery, and go back to America.

With no time to think about any repercussions, Maggie immediately hops a private plane to Russia to meet her new employers. Upon landing, she is taken to a remote wooded area with a sprawling palace right in the middle. The home of Oleg Ragoravich, a reclusive oligarch, and his young girlfriend, Nadia. The palace boasts priceless art, an Olympic sized pool, a garage full of dream cars, and a surgical wing straight out of Johns Hopkins. She will be performing a breast augmentation on Nadia and several facial surgeries for Oleg. While this seems questionable, Maggie is the perfect candidate. She is the best that money can buy but unlicensed and therefore her discretion for the matter at hand will be without a doubt.

The surgeries are each performed to the highest standard and then, everything goes to hell in a hand basket. As Nadia recovers, Maggie notices a mark that ties her directly to her deceased husband. And, in that moment, Oleg flees the makeshift medical facility. Security guards swarm the palace while Maggie’s head swims. Is this powerful family more connected to Maggie than she knows? Was Marc simply a casualty of war or was his death the result of something far more sinister? Read Gone Before Goodbye to find out!

Gone Before Goodbye was completely far fetched. Lol, there. I said it. Was it a lot of fun to read, though? Absolutely! This twisty novel read like a spy thriller and, although it took me a fair bit of time to get into it, I eventually was so in for the ride. Gone Before Goodbye had it all. Shocking grand reveals, a revolving door joining past and present, and secrets that would shake Maggie to her core. Maggie’s new gig put her in an impossible situation as soon as she agreed to it and when things went sideways, it was up to her to save herself.

Maggie McCabe was a formidable leading woman who had the smarts, guts, and level head of the most seasoned spy. Through the brilliant mind of a world renowned surgeon, she was able to begin putting together the puzzle she found herself in. Maggie went from seeking redemption from these surgeries to demanding answers about her husband’s death. And, she was redeemed. She went from a woman with grief permeating off of her to a bonafide badass. It didn’t matter to Maggie if this job killed her so she had nothing to lose. As the reader, all I could do was hang on tight to see what happened next!

Overall, I am going to rate Gone Before Goodbye with a six out of ten stars. I’m glad I read it in the name of trying something different but it wasn’t my favorite. This is a book you could take or leave!

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

Apr3

March 2026 Finishes

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March 2026 Finishes

Hello everyone and happy April!! March was a big month full of travel, new hair, and a whole lot of fun! It took a while to get myself back in the work flow after my mini New Orleans vacation but I am in full swing now and it feels great to be back. I even started another new social media job so stay tuned for more on that later. 😀 Before we dive into April showers in the hope of May flowers, let’s back peddle a bit to discuss my beauty finishes for March. There were several new favorite items in there so let’s get to it:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Cucumber Melon Shower Gel: YES

Aroma Naturals Vitamin E Moisturizer: YES

Trader Joe’s Watermelon Lip Mask: YES

Dr. Wellness Vitamin C Moisturizer: YES!!

Trader Joe’s Ultra Rich Body Butter: YES

Why/Why Not?

Aroma Naturals Moisturizer: I purchased this travel size Vitamin E moisturizer by Aroma Naturals for my trip to New Orleans and I liked it a lot! This moisturizer was nice and light which was perfect for the warm days and all of the walking in NOLA. It absorbed very quickly and I like to think it made me look slightly less tired after a trip to the bars on Bourbon Street lol! It took me a little over two weeks of twice daily use to finish the jar and I would happily use it again. In fact, I plan on it when my family goes to Italy this year!

Trader Joe’s Lip Mask: I started using the Trader Joe’s Watermelon Lip Mask in August and just finished it during the first week of March. Talk about a long lasting product and an excellent value! I used this lip mask every night before bed and really enjoyed it. The scent was delightfully reminiscent of Lip Smackers, a small swipe across the lips went a long way, and I woke up every morning with lips that were kissable and soft. It was especially helpful during the cold months of winter when my chapped lips get out of control. Definitely grab one if you are at Trader Joe’s – you are in for a treat. 😀

Dr. Wellness Moisturizer: Speaking of a long lasting product and an excellent value, we have the Vitamin C Moisturizer by Dr. Wellness. I began using this moisturizer during the first week of January and finished it up in the middle of March. I was SO sad when it was all gone because this moisturizer was phenomenal and I would be thrilled to find it again at TJMaxx. This product was literal radiance in a jar and my skin looked bright and alert after each use. The texture of the Dr. Wellness moisturizer was light and bouncy while still feeling incredibly nourishing. Even Johnny liked using this one so it is a double winner!

Trader Joe’s Body Butter: I was raised on the body butter from The Body Shop and miss having it in my routine so very much. The Ultra Rich Body Butter from Trader Joe’s is the next best thing. Although nothing will be better than The Body Shop, this is a close second. The vanilla orchid scent was so soft and pretty and, yes, this body butter was ultra rich. The Shea Butter formula made for a much denser body butter that did require a fair dose of rubbing in. Once it was on, you could feel it working immediately and my skin was so happy and hydrated. Both Johnny and I used this body butter and loved how it took away all of the redness from our dry hands in one night! It took me a month and a half of a few quarter sized dollops per night to finish the jar.

This was a GREAT SUCCESS for my March empties with all of them being potential repeat purchase products. I highly recommend all of them so be sure to add it to the cart if you see them while out and about!

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar30

Lil Red’s Book Club: It’s Not Her By Mary Kubica Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: It’s Not Her By Mary Kubica 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 an excellent thriller by Mary Kubica called It’s Not Her. Although there were several parts of this book that were very hard to read, it was completely unputdownable and I finished it in three sittings. I am definitely interested in reading more by Kubica and plan on starting with Local Woman Missing as It’s Not Her was one of the best thrillers I have read all year. Before we begin, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning on this book for graphic violence, sexual violence, mental health disorders, and highly disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

It’s family vacation time! Courtney and her husband Elliott and daughter Cass will be having a joint vacation with Courtney’s brother Nolan, his wife Emily, and three children named Reese, Wyatt, and Mae. Their getaway takes place in the remote woods of Wisconsin in a resort along the lake. Resort might be a far stretch for their destination as it’s pretty ramshackle but it will be home for the next few weeks. Mae and Cass are close in age and spend their days joined at the hip. The adults drink and have grown up conversations while Wyatt does whatever fourteen year old boys do. Meanwhile, Reese can be found wallowing in the misery of all of this family time until a young man named Daniel makes her do a double take.

The vacation is, indeed, in full swing. Until it gets cut short. After Cass and Mae enjoy a slumber party in Courtney and Elliott’s cabin, Mae makes her way back to her family with a belly full of pancakes and a smile on her face. A few minutes later, she runs screaming back to Courtney and Elliott’s place. Mae has discovered the deceased bodies of her mom and dad. Reese is nowhere to be found and Wyatt managed to sleep through the entire ordeal. Courtney returns to the grisly scene and it is so much worse than she could ever imagine. Her brother and sister-in-law have been slain brutally and Reese could be anywhere dead or alive.

A police investigation immediately follows and there is not much to go off of. There are no leads to point to the murderer and no traces of Reese after extensive searches. All the while, Courtney, Elliott, Wyatt, Mae, and Cass are holed up in a tiny cabin and are not allowed to leave. Courtney can not handle the stagnation and decides to do her own investigating in her determination to bring Reese home. However, the clues that she finds only incriminates those closest to her. How could Wyatt sleep through the murder of his parents? And why is there blood on her husband’s shoes? As the days drag on, Reese is nowhere closer to being found until Courtney discovers a major break in the case. Who is responsible for this terrible crime? And will Reese be alive to tell the tale? Read It’s Not Her to find out!

It’s Not Her was a wild ride from start to finish. It was harrowing, heartbreaking, and So. Freaking. Twisty! Just when I thought I had a feel for what might have happened, Mary Kubica’s expert writing pulled the rug out from under me. And it kept happening again, and again, and again. I always love when I can figure out a grand reveal. I love it even more when I can’t, though, and the final twist left me absolutely shook. It has been a few days since I finished It’s Not Her and I still can’t stop thinking about it.

I very much enjoyed Kubica’s writing style because it was so raw. She kept the punches coming rapidly and interspersed them with such tender moments that the next blow would feel even more heart wrenching. Every dead end was a kick to the gut. The agony of every passing day with Reese missing was palpable and every single Red Herring felt infuriating. It’s Not Her will leave you questioning your own ideas as to what happened with each turn of the page until you have no idea what to think. And, when you learn the truth, you will be just as shocked as me.

I am going to award It’s Not Her with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This was a dynamite introduction into Mary Kubica’s work and if her other books are anything like this, then I know I am in for a treat. Highly recommend!

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

Mar11

Reanimal Review

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Reanimal Review

Hello! Johnny and I absolutely love playing puzzle solving video games together like Unraveled and Little Nightmares. We were incredibly excited for Little Nightmares III and were thoroughly disappointed by it. Blessedly, shortly after, a new game called Reanimal came on the market and Johnny got it for me for Valentine’s Day. Reanimal was made by the same people who created Little Nightmares I and II and it begs the question of why the heck it wasn’t just Little Nightmares III to begin with. Reanimal completely blew it out of the water!! Let’s discuss:

Reanimal is everything that Johnny and I like. It is a fast paced horror driven puzzle solver revolving around a little boy and girl. Very similar to Little Nightmares! In fact, we lovingly just call our characters “Little Boy” and “Little Girl” which reminds me of Bird Box. In Reanimal, Little Boy and Girl must traverse through a war ravaged world to rescue their friends and defeat an overgrown sheep who is destroying everything in sight that remains. Whether they are hoofing it, traveling by boat, or vehicle there is imminent danger with every second that passes by. Little Boy and Girl are armed with nothing but lanterns, a knife, and a wrench to protect themselves. Combined with their smarts, they might be able to save the world yet!

From start to finish, Reanimal was a wild ride and was jam packed with gorgeous imagery. Like Little Nightmares, it was quite short and Johnny and I beat it in three or so sittings and we plan on playing it again ASAP. It is that good. This world that has been created is terrifying but simply amazing to behold and every moment felt noteworthy. I was especially partial to the first “boss” which definitely felt like a tip of the cap to the first two Little Nightmares. Upon its completion, however, is when things really started to pick up.

About midway through the game, a WWI arc began and that blew our freaking minds. We had to run through trenches, cross No Man’s Land, and inch our way further with puzzles without being shot. These scenes were such a white knuckle moment and any misstep resulted in fatality. While Reanimal was wicked fun to play, part of the delight came with communicating with Johnny. There were countless times when we had to put our heads together, workshop possible solutions, try them out, and alter our course to what we found. It was so interactive and was a game that you simply did not just play but worked through with your teammate. If Little Nightmares III didn’t do it for you, either, then you are going to love Reanimal just as much as we did. Highly recommend!

To me and Johnny both, Reanimal was a ten out of ten star experience. Buckle in and hang on tight because Reanimal is one of the craziest, best games we have ever played!

What was your favorite Little Nightmares game? Do you have a favorite puzzle solving game? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah