Tag Archives: star rating

Jul27

Lil Red’s Book Club: Fresh Off The Boat By Eddie Huang Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Fresh Off The Boat By Eddie Huang 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 memoir by Eddie Huang called Fresh Off The Boat. A memoir is a far cry from the fast paced thrillers that I normally read. However, Fresh Off The Boat is a book that I have been most eager to sink my teeth into. Johnny and I absolutely love the TV show of the same name and I was so curious to see how accurately the Huang family was portrayed after reading the book. I was SHOOK to find out that the family friendly comedy sitcom took A LOT of liberties lol. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Fresh Off The Boat for child abuse and general violence. Now, let’s get to it:

Eddie Huang is the eldest son of Jessica and Louis and big bro to Emery and Evan. His parents immigrated from Taiwan and China, respectively, and were Fresh Off The Boat in America trying to create a better life and, of course, make lots and lots of money. Louis found his fortune by opening restaurants in Orlando, Florida and his family joined him there after his businesses began turning a hefty profit. Eddie became the new kid and not just any new kid. A Chinese-American kid and one of the very few in the area.

As Eddie grew up, he struggled to find a place to belong. His parents were not merely strict but abusive and everything about Eddie stuck out like a sore thumb. He was called every slur in the book by his peers, got beat up consistently, found no comfort at home, and turned to hip-hop music as not only his favorite thing but his friend. Eddie was an angry child and couldn’t understand what was so different about him to warrant treatment like that. So he took to using his own words and his fists to keep him from getting hurt.

Eventually, Eddie did make friends but they were constantly getting in trouble. He was in detention on the daily, suspended nonstop, and loved drinking and drugs. However, one fateful conversation with his insanely stern father after his little brother narc-ed on him for drug use helped change his destructive downward spiral. Eddie began actually trying in school, became interested in his roots, and was determined to be a Chinese-American in his own way. Not how his parents want him to be, but how he wants to be.

After graduating high school, Eddie moved on to college and obtained his degrees. The problem was, he found no passion in the jobs that he could snag with his education. So he made a list of jobs that he wanted to have instead. Some of them were far fetched. Some of them were achievable and that was all the encouragement he needed to dive in. Eddie found solid footing as a stand up comedian but he wasn’t up to telling the same jokes night after night after night. After ditching comedy, Eddie turned to a new goal on his list: Open a restaurant.

Not only did Eddie love to eat, but he had a true love of cooking too. Everyone in his family was an excellent cook and all his life, he watched and learned. Eddie knew what he wanted in his own restaurant: A place where people could come to kick it and enjoy Chinese-Taiwanese food with sustainable ingredients and an affordable price. Thus, Baohaus was born on the Lower East Side of New York… The rest? You’re just going to have to read for yourself!

Holy WOW was Fresh Off The Boat a fun, occasionally heartbreaking, consistently hilarious, and inspiring read. As an avid fan of the TV show, I was expecting a lot of similarities between that and the book. While there were a fair amount of things that the show got right, the book turned what I thought I knew about the Huang family on its head. They weren’t a picture perfect family at all. Rather, a family that fought, hurt each other, and never had those classic heartwarming sitcom moments in the slightest. All the while, Eddie was in the middle just trying to find his own way.

I absolutely loved the way that Eddie wrote this book because it is written exactly how he speaks. It’s not perfect and that’s okay. What it is is real. A real person speaking about his real experiences as no one but himself. And who Eddie is is a driven, creative, talented, and damned funny to boot dude. There were countless instances as I read Fresh Off The Boat where I wasn’t just laughing out loud but cackling lol. Eddie told his own story in his own style and wasn’t afraid to make jokes at his own expense or anyone’s expense for that matter. For all of his shit talking, Eddie has a lot of heart and will inspire anyone, no matter where they’re from, to make their own way too.

Overall, I am going to rate Fresh Off The Boat with an eight out of ten stars. I really enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to digging into his other book, Double Cup Love, next!

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

Jul26

Groovy Movies: I Know What You Did Last Summer Edition

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Groovy Movies: I Know What You Did Last Summer 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 the latest summer slasher, I Know What You Did Last Summer. When I ordered the tickets for the flick, the employee told me “I doubt it” lolol. Nice! This is bad but I did not see the original movie so I went into this reboot with zero expectations. I was, however, a huge fan of the author of the book, Lois Duncan, back in the day and knew I was in for a fun afternoon at the movie theater! Let’s get to it:

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

Southport is a lux ocean town for the ultra wealthy, but that wasn’t always the case. In 1997, brutal murders of a group of friends by a hook wielding fisherman took place. Two survivors remained who will never forget while the Southport police did everything in their power to erase the past. After a fancy land developer took the reigns on the town, it turned into the posh place to be with stunning ocean views. Southport is moving forward and the heinous crimes that took place are the last thing on anyone’s mind as they day drink their lives away. It’s certainly the last thing on bride to be, Danica’s mind.

Danica and Teddy are soon to be married and their old crew is back for the celebrations. There’s Ava and Milo as well as a straggler of the group, Stevie, who joins them before the night is out. After a big engagement party, the friends decide to keep the party going with some drinking and driving, sparking up blunts, and heading to a winding road with the best view of fireworks for the Fourth of July. Teddy has gotten turnt and a dangerous game of chicken as fireworks light up the sky brings a car crashing down into the rocky cliff. Rather than call the police, Teddy calls his dad who is the police and will make it look like this never happened. All they have to do is keep their mouths shut.

Fast forward to a year later and the gang is back for Danica’s bridal shower. As she opens her prezzies, she picks up an envelope expecting cash inside. What she receives is a card with the warning “I know what you did last summer” and just as we were all expecting, shit is about to hit the fan. The hook and harpoon wielding fisherman is back with a vengeance and whoever it is won’t stop until Danica, Teddy, Milo, Ava, Stevie, and a newcomer are six feet under. Their only choice is to stick close together and seek out advice from a survivor of the 1997 massacre. Her answer is simple: Kill whoever it is before they kill you. Who will make it out alive? Watch I Know What You Did Last Summer to find out!

Now, I am well aware that I Know What You Did Last Summer has gotten extremely lackluster reviews. Myself, on the other hand, liked it a lot! Maybe it’s because I didn’t see the original or maybe it’s because I saw the movie for what is was: A straight to the point summer slasher. A popcorn movie that requires nothing from you but to jump in and put your hands up for the ride. Was it the best movie I have ever seen? Of course not. Did I have fun watching it? I sure did!

I Know What You Did Last Summer was often hilarious, had insane kills, and a cast that worked really well together. The core group of friends was easy to root for which allowed for me to literally jump in my seat during the jump scares. It was a classic story with fresh and exciting twists and turns that had me hooked (Pun intended!). If you are feeling wishy washy about seeing this movie because of an attachment to the original film, think of it as watching something completely different. Something brand new that’s meant to entertain. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to watching it again with Johnny!

Overall, I am going to give I Know What You Did Last Summer a seven out of ten stars. I absolutely think it is worth seeing and I don’t think this movie’s reviews did it any justice!

Have you seen any movies this summer? Is there a movie coming out that you would like to see? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul23

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Doorman By Chris Pavone Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Doorman By Chris Pavone 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 novel of suspense called The Doorman by Chris Pavone. I read Pavone’s most well known book, Two Nights In Lisbon, about three years ago and it received a lackluster review and star rating. Unfortunately, The Doorman did nothing for me either and will be following suit. This will definitely be the last book I read by this author but let’s chat about it anyways! Before we begin, I will be putting a trigger warning on The Doorman for general violence and sexual assault. Now, let’s get to it:

The Bohemia apartments in New York City are home to the richest of the rich. People so rich that money means nothing to them. It is home to award winners, celebrities, CEOs, and anyone that falls under the category of the “one percent”. Of course, even people with an endless supply of cash have problems and secrets too. They just have the means to cover it up.

In the most expensive suite of the Bohemia, we have Emily and Whit Longworth and their two small children. Whit made his fortune in military equipment and provides supplies for both the good and the bad. Emily has a passion for art, but put a lot of her own self aside to become the definition of “stay at home mom”. Now, she handles PTA meetings, board meetings for places she donates to, and managing the staff that keeps her luxury penthouse pristine. Oh yeah, she also hates her husband’s guts.

A far more modest apartment in the Bohemia is Julian, his wife Jennifer, and their two teenage children. Jules is co founder of an art gallery and has even provided pieces for the Longworth’s suite. He is a freshly turned fifty year old man who lives life as simply as possible and with as little strain as possible too. Julian has a heart valve condition that could kill him instantaneously should he push himself too much. The thing is, he can’t afford the live saving surgery and he might not be able to save his marriage either. Julian and Jennifer’s relationship has come to a standstill and with his own mortality on the line, Jules decides to live dangerously. An affair can’t cause his heart to get any worse, can it?

Finally, we have Chicky. Chicky isn’t a resident at the Bohemia but a doorman to the residents. He sees all, he hears all, and spends his days manning the gates with a huge smile plastered on his face. For as happy as Chicky’s demeanor is, he has his own problems. Chicky is in debt. We’re talking debt debt from hospital bills for his late wife, back rent, and his children’s education. He is on the verge of eviction and the loan shark who he turned to is not waiting patiently for his money back. Chicky’s life is on the line every day and nothing can be done unless he gets a small fortune and fast. An amount that a resident at the Bohemia wouldn’t even miss.

As the stories of our three key players interweave, big changes are in store for all of them and our final character: New York City, itself. Black men are being murdered by the police and the long overdue revolution has finally taken to the streets. On the night of the biggest protest yet, militia style counter protesters arrive. What started out as a safe and peaceful protest has turned to violence as the counter protestors spew their hatred and wield weapons. In their own way, Emily, Jules, and Chicky are all in the thick of the protest and everything will change tonight. For the better? Read The Doorman to find out! Or don’t!!!!!!!

From start to finish, I was ready for The Doorman to be over lol but I powered through. Similarly to my review of Two Nights In Lisbon, I quite liked the story line of The Doorman. Once again, however, my main issue came from Chris Pavone’s writing. The Doorman read like a book that was specifically made for people who live in New York City. It was constantly bogged down with sprawling litanies of different locations both well known and obscure, restaurants, and an endless array of street names. It turned what could have been a relatively straight forward read into something convoluted and generally uninteresting if you are like me and had NO idea about anything or any place Pavone was writing about.

Not only did Pavone name drop every single location that ever existed in NYC, he was just name dropping willy nilly. There were SO many characters that just popped in with no introduction or explanation and if he did finally get around to it, the minor characters in question had already been forgotten. These unimportant additions took away from the key players themselves who all felt close to a cohesive whole but not there yet. At the blessed end of the book, I didn’t feel any type of way about anyone except Whit and not in the good way because he actively sucked. I refuse to not finish anything that I start reading and it was such a happy moment when I could shut The Doorman for good!

Overall, I am going to rate The Doorman with a three out of ten stars. Two lower than Two Nights In Lisbon. I absolutely would NOT recommend this book so skip on it for sure and use your summer reading time to dive into something you really enjoy!

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

Jul16

Lil Red’s Book Club: Knock Knock By Anders Roslund Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Knock Knock By Anders Roslund 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 Swedish mystery thriller called Knock Knock by Anders Roslund. Unbeknownst to me, this book is actually the newest edition of a series following a curmudgeon of a Detective Superintendent named Ewert Grens. Although a few nods to past books were scattered throughout Knock Knock, it didn’t alter the overall story line and was still a great read. In fact, I think I’ll go back and read the rest of the series! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Knock Knock for graphic violence and highly disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Ewert Grens has worked in the Homicide Unit for a long time and is getting close to his retirement. There is one case, however, that has still haunted him for close to two decades: An entire family murdered, minus one little girl safely hidden away. He rescued her from the crime scene three days later, took care of her, and was able to get her a new identity and placement with a new family. The case went cold quickly but he often wonders about that little girl. Where is she? How is she? What is she like now? Then, as if out of nowhere, her case resurfaces again. A break in occurs at the home where the crime took place and potential suspects from seventeen years prior end up murdered in the exact same fashion as the girl’s deceased family.

Piet Hoffmann, too, works with the police but in a completely different fashion. He isn’t a cop or a detective, he is an infiltrator specializing in organized crime. Piet has been an invaluable resource to the Swedish police and has ended countless smuggling rings of drugs, weapons, and people. Now, he has retired from his old life and is the definition of a family man to his wife and three small children. Sometimes, Piet muses about going back to his old life for a quick job or two but never acts on it. Until now.

On a lovely afternoon, Piet discovers that his young son is playing with a new toy that he found in the mailbox. It looked like a toy, played like a toy but was merely a hand grenade designed as one. In the package addressed for his sons, he finds a note with five damning typewritten words: “We know who you are.” Someone out there knows that code name Paula is Piet and plans on using that to their advantage. Through phone calls from an altered voice, Piet is given a new mission. Retrieve a cache of the most powerful machine guns known to man or your family dies.

Long ago, Detective Grens formed a fondness for Piet’s family and is one of the few men that Piet somewhat trusts. He knows he needs the resources of the police to turn the mission he has been given on its head. His family will survive, the guns will not fall in the wrong hands, and the organization will be taken down. As the former enemies (according to Knock Knock’s reference of past books) delve deeper into the cases, realization dawns that they are connected and time is running out. Will the old detective finally be able to resolve the case that evaded him all these years? Will Piet’s family make it out alive? Read Knock Knock to find out!

Outside of the very first chapter, Knock Knock started at an excruciatingly slow pace. It wasn’t that I was entering into a series that already had four previous books. There was just So. Much. Information. to set the scene and things didn’t really start picking up until around page one hundred fifty. I trudged through and am glad I did because when the book shifted, it turned into nonstop action, jaw dropping revelations, and twists and turns that continued until the very last page. Knock Knock was four hundred and forty pages long and once that turning point hit, I devoured the rest in two sittings.

Although I had just been newly introduced to Grens and Hoffmann, it felt like I had known them for forever. They were both so likeable in their own ways. Grens was cranky, set in his ways, and kept the soft spot he had for his dear ones well hidden. Hoffmann was like an action movie star – smooth, contained, and a master of every weapon imaginable while still maintaining his role as a father the best he could. It was the classic scenario of an old cop having a begrudging relationship with someone who can’t be told a damn thing and it worked so well.

It was so easy to grow fond for a majority of the characters in Knock Knock and it made for such a palpable sense of urgency as it twisted to the nitty gritty. Time was a major factor in this book and the countdown had me panicking. There was so much up in the air, so much room for error, and devastating consequences should the slightest thing go wrong. As I read, there were countless times when I found myself holding my breath and it was an absolutely gripping read once the pace picked up.

Overall, I am going to rate Knock Knock with a six and a half out of ten stars. Would I have liked it more had I read the other Ewert Grens novels? Who’s to say? I would have rated it higher had it not started out so freaking slow!

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

Jul13

Groovy Movies: Jurassic World Rebirth Edition

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Groovy Movies: Jurassic World Rebirth 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 the newest edition to the Jurassic Park franchise: Jurassic World Rebirth. Since this flick has come out, I have heard nothing but lackluster reviews and I’m honestly not sure why. I thought it was a perfect summer popcorn movie! It was fun, fast paced, action packed, and exciting. If a movie entertains me, it has done its job and I really enjoyed it. Let’s get to it:

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

In a world where people are caring less and less about dinosaurs, a Martin Krebs cares about them deeply. Or, rather, cares deeply about the almighty dollar. His pharmaceutical company thinks that they can provide a life saving cure for coronary disease. All they need is a DNA sample from three of the biggest dinosaurs of land, air, and sea as they have the biggest hearts and lifespan. With the promise of saving lives and a massive payday, he enlists the help of special operative Zora Bennett and her crew as well as the paleontologist, Dr. Henry Loomis. With the team assembled, they travel to the only place where dinosaurs still roam: Isle Saint-Hubert – a small island close to the equator that offers a habitat where these magnificent creatures can continue to thrive.

As the crew begins their journey, we cut to a family enjoying a day at sea. Reuben and his two daughters Isabella and Teresa and Teresa’s boyfriend Xavier. They are in the middle of a lovely vacation when all of a sudden, something big hits their boat. It’s not an ordinary something but a Mosasaurus, the biggest dinosaur at sea. The family’s tiny boat is no match for the mighty creature and they will be lost at sea if they don’t get help quickly. A life saving radio call alerts Team Dinosaur to their rescue and they will track down a village located on the island they are traveling to so they can return home.

The ride to Isle Saint-Hubert is not smooth sailing in the slightest and they are being foiled by dinosaurs at every turn. The boat is being destroyed, people are falling overboard or being eaten, and by the time they get to the island the family is separated from the crew and the boat can no longer function. On the bright side, they did manage to get a sample from the Mosasaurus. As the family attempts to make their way to the village, Team Dinosaur begins hunting down the remaining two samples they need – Titanosaurus of the land and Quetzalcoatlus of the air.

The mission for the DNA is essentially timed as the crew must obtain them and reach a helicopter port in the village. The helicopter will circle for two minutes and leave for their own safety, with or without any passengers. As the family works together to get themselves to the village, tensions rise in Team Dinosaur. Krebs is risking the safety of his crew left and right and leaves Zora and Loomis questioning their mission. Is all of the money in the world worth a cure that is not obtainable to anyone but the super wealthy? There in lies the rub should all of the samples be obtained. Will the crew and family too leave Isle Saint-Hubert in one piece with an accomplished mission? Watch Jurassic World Rebirth to find out!

From start to finish, this movie was just pure fun. The cast was rocking, the scenery was stunning, and the dinos were out of this world. The plot was incredibly straight forward and simple but obviously the location added such a sense of urgency that it kept this almost two and a half hour long flick moving at a rapid pace. It felt so much shorter than that because I was so invested! Minus the token villains on Team Dinosaur, everyone in the cast was so darn likeable that it made it feel like you were right there with them every time they got into trouble. It certainly made for a thrilling ride!

Jurassic World Rebirth tipped its cap to so many Jurassic Park classic moments: Tumbling falls, close calls, don’t wake the sleeping dinosaur, and yes – a trapped under a car scene too. This movie was a celebration of a beloved franchise and the bad reviews shocked me after all was said and done. Jurassic World Rebirth asks nothing but to join in on the adventure and it is up to the viewer to immerse themselves in it or not. If you do, you are going to be in for a treat and will leave the theater wanting to see it again. I definitely did. 🙂

Overall, I am going to rate Jurassic World Rebirth with a seven out of ten stars. This is a must see summer feature and I highly recommend it!

Have you seen Jurassic World Rebirth yet? 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

Jun20

Groovy Movies: Dangerous Animals Edition

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Groovy Movies: Dangerous Animals Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! One of my clients is a huge horror movie fan and one of her favorite things to do is catch the newest scary flicks in theaters. Just like me! She also has a passion for creature themed scary movies so Dangerous Animals was an absolute must see for her. We ended up seeing it this past week and it was an excellent choice because we both loved it. In fact, everyone who we talked about it with wants to see it too. In a spoiler free setting, as always, let’s discuss:

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

Dangerous Animals takes place in beautiful Australia with all of the sun, sand, surf, and… sharks that you could ever imagine. Zephyr, our leading lady, finds solace in the waves and spends her time on the beach, hocking snacks from gas stations, and living in her car. Tucker, our main baddie, also feels the call of the ocean – particularly to the sharks that inhabit the water. He runs a swim with the sharks cage diving adventure via his business “Tucker’s Experience”. When he’s not on his boat getting wasted, he is on the prowl for his newest victim. Tucker’s Experience is not simply cage diving, but a front for his favorite hobby of all: Watching the sharks nosh on the people who were looking for the thrill of a lifetime.

Tucker has been watching Zephyr and is intoxicated by her beauty, skills on the surfboard, and all of the booze that he chugs throughout the day. He must have her and blindsides her during an early morning surf. She wakes up on his boat handcuffed to a bed and meets another girl who got caught in his trap. Crafty Zephyr immediately sets to work to get them out of this deadly situation, but Tucker is just as clever too. With every step Zephyr takes towards freedom, Tucker is always one step ahead. He dubs her his “marlin” because of her fight, but let’s it be known that the marlin will always end up on the fisherman’s boat. Does Zephyr stand a fighting chance? Or will she end up as Tucker’s latest shark bait? Watch Dangerous Animals to find out!

From start to finish, Dangerous Animals was just pure fun and funny too! Jai Courtney as Tucker was a formidable leading man and carried this film with gusto. From his drunken dancing, drunken singing “Baby Shark”, and the ridiculousness he is constantly spewing, you could just tell that Courtney was having a ball playing this character. He was the ideal antagonist to the calm, cool, and collected Zephyr. While she was level headed throughout her terror, Tucker was on an entirely different planet and the juxtaposition between the two of them created a strong sense of urgency. No matter how cool Zephyr played it, crazy Tucker was there to play chess and it was a game of cat and mouse on the open seas.

Dangerous Animals clearly didn’t take itself too seriously and it made for a slasher that was so highly entertaining while still serving that classic horror movie gore. In fact, the humor that was consistent throughout the movie made all of the scares even scarier. It really did lull you into a false sense of complacency! This flick is the perfect summer slasher and was a wild ride. I would love to watch it again and can’t recommend it enough!

Overall, I am going to award Dangerous Animals with an eight out of ten stars. It was innovative, hilarious, and scary all in one and Jai Courtney did a phenomenal job. It’s worth a watch for his performance alone!

What movies are you looking forward to seeing? What was the last movie you saw in theaters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun12

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Missing Half By Ashley Flowers Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Missing Half By Ashley Flowers 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 new thriller by Ashley Flowers (Which sounds like a made up name) called The Missing Half. This book was an insanely fast read and I finished it in a matter of a few sittings. The jury is still out on if I liked it or not, though. It wasn’t bad, just very average. It was, however, way better than my last Book Club read by Freida McFadden so that’s a plus! Before we get started, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Missing Half for disturbing content, violence, sexual assault, and addiction. Now, let’s get to it:

Nic’s beloved older sister, Kasey, went missing seven years ago and it still feels like just yesterday. Nic lives in a perpetual state of miserable limbo – She is a struggling alcoholic with a fresh DUI charge, she works a crappy job that she is able to hold down because the boss is a family friend who feels bad for her, and she is estranged from all family and friends. Her days are spent avoiding thinking about her sister at all costs, until she is forced to by a stranger who came to her work. She says her name is Jenna, her sister Jules went missing shortly before Kasey, and she thinks they can solve the cases together. Who knows their sisters better than their own sisters?

At first, this is the last thing that Nic would ever do let alone think of. But, the possibility of finding answers for herself, Jenna, and their sisters proves to be too intoxicating. And, even if the subject matter is difficult, she is beginning to find a friend in Jenna – something she lacks desperately. The girls begin meeting up and going through each of their sister’s lives with a fine toothed comb and they are looking for anything that can connect the two of them. Who did they hang out with? Were there any boyfriends? Were they acting strangely before they went missing?

As Nic and Jenna dive deeper, they find that there is a huge connection that the police missed. Jules and Kasey worked next door to each other. Jules in a restaurant and Kasey in the record store beside it. While their paths may not have crossed, the manager of the restaurant was well aware of both girls and any other pretty young thing that walks by. With their first true suspect, Nic and Jenna put on their best detective hats but discover more than what they ever could have imagined.

Both Nic and Jenna prided themselves on being best friends with their sisters. They believed that there were no secrets between them as they could deal with anything together. Both Kasey and Jules were hiding something major from their sisters and Nic and Jenna know they are getting close to cracking this cold case once and for all. Someone doesn’t like what they are doing one bit and is doing everything in their power to get them to stop their investigation. Will they solve the case of their missing sisters? Or will it forever remain a mystery? Read The Missing Half to find out!

I quite liked the plot of The Missing Half and it almost felt like reading a true crime documentary on Netflix: Two sisters solving the cold case of their missing sisters. Ashley Flowers was able to invoke a great sense of urgency in her writing and it kept me turning the pages. Despite reading ravenously, I was left feeling wishy-washy about this book. The ticking time clock of the task at hand was so prominent that it didn’t leave a lot of room for character development. I felt no connection to Nic or Jenna. Of course, I was rooting for them to succeed but there wasn’t anything special about them. The picture painted of their sisters was crystal clear and this made Nic and Jenna seem more like secondary characters rather than the two leads. So, when the book was done, all I could say was “huh”.

Regardless of if the book is lackluster or not, I love being a detective while I read and, for the most part, I am very good at predicting the end result well before it happens. In the case of The Missing Half, however, I was so completely wrong when it came to the grand reveal and it really threw me for a loop. It also made me so frustrated because it was a notion I actually toyed with, but thought it to be too implausible and didn’t give it a second thought. The only thing I will say is that this book is Red Herring central so be sure to read it with a discerning eye!

Overall, I am going to rate The Missing Half with a four and a half out of five stars. I wouldn’t call it good or bad, just very okay. It is a quick read if you choose to give it a go and I’ll be curious to see what you think!

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

May24

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

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Tenant 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 Freida McFadden’s newest book called The Tenant. I have a love/hate relationship with McFadden’s books. I absolutely loved The Housemaid series, however, the other books I have read by her definitely did not meet my expectations. Unfortunately, The Tenant was another instance of that and fell under my usual critique of McFadden – “good but not great”. Before we begin our Book Club meeting, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Tenant for violence and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Blake and Krista are newly engaged and happy as can be. They live in a charming brownstown in New York City and Blake has just accepted a hotshot new position as VP of Marketing at the company he works for. Everything is going picture perfect, until Blake’s world comes crashing down. Shortly after settling into his fancy new office, Blake is fired for selling the company’s marketing campaigns. This is an offense that Blake isn’t even aware he made and has no idea what his boss is talking about. He feels confident that this was all some kind of misunderstanding and will have his job back before the week is out.

That week turns into months of unemployment and Blake and Krista are barely scraping by as Krista’s wages at a laundromat pale in comparison to their mortgage. If they don’t get their money problem solved ASAP, they will be on the streets and Blake finally agrees to Krista’s big idea: Have a tenant move in to help with bills. As they go about the interviewing process, every candidate is borderline crazy and they are ready to give up. Blessedly, Whitney shows up for her interview and is… normal. She’s pretty, has great references, and had her first and last month’s rent ready to go. They were sold.

The first week or so with Whitney goes swimmingly and Blake even has a new temp gig. Embarrassing, yes, but every little bit from the paycheck helps. Then, little things start to happen at the brownstone that never occurred before Whitney moved in. There are loud noises all throughout the night, the kitchen is filled with fruit flies, and Blake breaks into an inexplicable and painful rash. With no other plausible explanation, Blake blames Whitney wholeheartedly and is convinced that she is not who she says she is.

As more and more offenses against Whitney tally up and become even more disturbing, Blake quickly descends into a paranoid state. He can’t trust anyone and barely trusts himself as he repeats the claims in his head. All he knows is that he and Krista don’t know Whitney at all and she could be dangerous. In fact, she could be the reason Blake lost his cushy new job in the first place. But, is she? Or does Blake have his sights set on the wrong person entirely? Read The Tenant to find out!!

Let me start off by saying that I really liked the general story line of The Tenant. Happy couple, hard times, a stranger moves in, and the shit hits the fan. It really is a perfect combination and fits Johnny’s description of “LifeTime movie books” to the T lol. I just wish I liked the book more!! The tension that was building in the brownstone was delicious, a little slow moving at times, but my interest was piqued. Then, the twist happened, which I saw coming from a mile away but it just felt… random. It felt like a lot of build up for a twist that didn’t necessarily need to happen but simply was put there for shock value. This is actually a complaint that I have had with past McFadden books as well, like the plot changed fully on a dime and it wasn’t thought through completely.

On top of feeling wishy washy about The Tenant as a whole, none of the characters were particularly likeable. This book was told from Blake’s point of view and it was interesting to read a LifeTime movie book from the male perspective. BUT, Blake was a major a-hole and it was hard to feel sympathetic for him in the entirety of the read. Once my sympathy ran out, I was ready for The Tenant to be done because it was the only saving grace that the main character had. I can’t say that I felt strongly in favor of any of the characters and that’s not a good thing as I want to feel that connection when I read. The Tenant definitely missed the mark big time.

Overall, I am going to rate The Tenant with a three out of ten stars. If you are a diehard Freida McFadden fan, I am sure you will give it a read anyways. You are not missing out on anything if you don’t, though!

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

Apr29

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Maid’s Secret By Nita Prose Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Maid’s Secret By Nita Prose 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 book that simply delighted me from start to finish: The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose. This is the third installment in The Maid series and if you are like me, you fell head over heels for the unlikely heroine, Molly, and a cast of supporting characters that can’t be beat. Like its predecessors, The Maid’s Secret welcomes us back to the Regency Grand Hotel for Molly the Maid’s biggest mystery yet. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Maid’s Secret for physical abuse and sexual assault. Now, let’s get to it:

It’s a big day for Molly and her beloved fiance, Juan Manuel. The Regency Grand is hosting a live taping of the hit show, Hidden Treasures. The Hidden Treasures! Hosted by the adoring couple, Baxley Brown and Thomas Beagle, the two art aficionados uncover lost art and heirlooms in the most unexpected places and shed light on hidden masterpieces. The hotel is abuzz with excitement from VIP guests and the staff alike because they will be able to get their trinkets and special items appraised too. Before leaving their humble apartment, Molly assembles a box from her dearest gran’s curio cabinet with prized possessions. And, at Juan’s insistence, she brings the “golden huevo” an unspeakably beautiful treasure that fell into Molly’s hands at a manor her gran once worked at as a maid.

With the treasure box in tow, Molly and Juan walk to work and into the hustle and bustle of the big event. After last minute preparations are done to perfection, the staff waits in line to meet Baxley and Brown to see if the old saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” rings true. Before she knows it, it’s Molly’s turn to grace the stage and show the hosts what she brought. Her gran’s teacup and silver spoon that contained priceless sentimental value holds no monetary gain. However, the “golden huevo” catches the eyes of Baxley and Brown. This is no ordinary piece of decor at all: It is the original prototype made from the House of Faberge. Molly is an instant multimillionaire, promptly faints, and becomes an instant sensation too.

When Molly comes to, she is enveloped in a strange new world. Suddenly, her and Juan are rich beyond their wildest dreams and everyone wants a piece of her. From invisible to overnight celebrity, the doting couple tries to take their change of fortune in stride but it proves to be most difficult. At the end of the day, Molly loves her life with Juan Manuel and wants everything to return to normal ASAP. With the hopes of never having to penny pinch again and for her newfound celebrity to die down, Molly agrees to auction off her treasured treasure. The auction will take place at the Regency Grand and when it is over, Molly and Juan will be able to afford their dream wedding, a new apartment, and anything and everything they could ever want.

We return to the tearoom of the Regency Grand where everyone is on pins and needles for the auction’s end result. To Molly’s utter surprise, the lost Faberge is sold for a cool ten million smackers. The lights dim, the crowd goes wild, and when the room is illuminated once again there is one thing missing. The egg! The Faberge was stolen right beneath everyone’s noses and is yet again lost to the world. The only clue? A threat to Molly written on a piece of paper: Find the egg and you die.

Just like that, the buzz on Molly the Maid comes to a screeching halt. No Faberge and no money, but on the bright side – her and Juan get to live their normal life together. That is, until the egg has been returned. The investigation is in full swing once again and it is up to Molly and her companions to solve the case: Her dear granddad, true crime obsessed Angela, Detective Stark, and support from the person she needs the most – the words in a journal from her beloved, departed gran. Will this unlikely team crack the case of the Faberge? Read The Maid’s Secret to find out!

Holy WOW was the third installment of The Maid series amazing. In fact, The Maid’s Secret is my favorite one yet! This book went back and forth between the journal of gran and Molly’s latest adventure and I could not stop reading if you paid me. The multiple narrator format is something I am most fond of and it was incredible to be reunited with gran. She has always been with Molly, but to read her words and hear her story that she kept hidden for so long allowed the series to shine in a brand new light. All of the fairy tales and fables that gran would instill in Molly turned out to have a deeper meaning than you could ever imagine and it was absolutely beautiful to read.

Of course, it was also incredible to be reunited with Molly! Her character is a gift to the literary world and between all of her quirks and darling phrases, I would be hard pressed to find anyone who didn’t instantly fall in love with her. She is the girl you want to root for and see win and everyone in her close circle feels the same way. To have a supporting cast that wants nothing but the best for Molly, just like me, is a rarity in the books I typically read and my heart was bursting with every turn of the page. The true beauty of Molly is that even, in her words, the “bad eggs” have a chance to redeem themselves and that is such an important lesson in and of itself. Molly is a heroine that will encourage, teach, and stay with you and The Maid’s Secret has further solidified her as one of my all time favorite characters.

I am going to award The Maid’s Secret with the coveted ten out of ten stars. If you, too, are a fan of the series: RUN don’t walk to read this book!

Who is your favorite literary character? What is your favorite book in The Maid trilogy? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr20

Groovy Movies: Drop Edition

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Groovy Movies: Drop Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing a new thriller out in theaters called Drop. I was going into the theater with the mindset that this movie would be just okay. I went out of the theater thinking it was excellent! Drop was a fresh, exciting take on a thriller that kept me on my toes with delicious twists and turns the whole way through. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Drop for domestic violence, violence, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

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

Violet is a single mom who is trying to put her dark past behind her and get back out there again. She has a date tonight with a handsome man she met on an app, Henry! Her sister will be watching her son named Toby, she has on a hot outfit, and Henry is taking her to a very exclusive and very expensive restaurant. What could possibly go wrong? The answer is literally everything. While Violet waits at the restaurant bar for Henry to arrive, she begins receiving strange “drops” to her phone. They are from an anonymous source and the messages are popular memes with a threatening twist. Yes, it’s weird but Henry just showed up, they sit at their table, and Violet is ready to enjoy her date.

As Violet and Henry go through their introductions, the drops just keep coming. She tells Henry about it and they chalk it up to pranksters until a drop sends that Violet can’t ignore: There is a man in her home right now that could hurt her sister and Toby and there is only one way for this not to happen: Kill her date. Violet is now completely alone in the situation and will do anything to avoid this fate. She must be crafty because the person threatening her sees all, hears all, and will not stop until she spikes Henry’s drink with a vial of poison. Time is running out and Violet must act quickly. Will she carry out the deed to protect her family? Watch Drop to find out!

The plot to Drop was, admittedly, very straight forward: Threatening messages, an impossible situation, and problem solving. I didn’t mind this in the slightest, however, because it was something I hadn’t seen before. I thought it was absolutely ingenious to play on the “airdrop” function, which somehow seems so much more ominous than a text from a random or blocked number. And, due to having to be within a certain range to use said function, it had to be someone in the restaurant rather than an unknown in an abandoned building. But who in the restaurant? The friendly bartender? The snarky hostess? The man who claims to be “waiting for his sister”? The possibilities were contained to a space but felt endless and that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Not only was Drop highly suspenseful but there were parts in it that were truly hilarious. Amidst all the tension were perfect moments of comic relief that came from Jeffery Self as Henry and Violet’s waiter, Matt. Their first date happened to be his first shift at the high end restaurant and, as an aspiring actor, he made a MEAL out of every single line. He was the kind of waiter who showed up at all the wrong times, made the silliest comments, laughed hysterically at all of them, and would have patrons mentally willing for him to go away. Every time he made an entrance, it was like the rest of the movie stopped, you watched his little show, and then the suspense came back and gripped like a vice. It was such a juxtaposition to the thriller vibes and not only was it an interesting way to go, but it worked beautifully.

Overall, I am going to rate Drop with an eight out of ten stars. It was far fetched, sure, but it sure was fun and kept me guessing and that is good enough for me!

What did you think of Drop if you saw it? What is the last movie you saw in theaters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah