ragolls & ragrets _ spookathon vlog day 3
I'm Not Loving Tragic by Kayla's Recommendation
I picked up "Tragic" by Kayla on Goodreads as I was scrolling through my library's list of psychological thriller audiobooks that were available right now. It had good ratings and Kayla liked it, so I went for it. However, I'm not loving it. I understand unlikable characters, but I don't like characters that are just pure stupidity, and that's sort of what I'm getting here.
I was really looking forward to diving into this book, but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. The final twist at the end wasn't enough to redeem how stupid the plot was. Both of the main characters were portrayed as having mental illness used as a plot device - which wasn't what I thought it would be. Mental illness is such an important and sensitive topic, and it should never be treated lightly or used as a means to manipulate the plot.
The husband character was also pretty one-dimensional and didn't really add anything to the story. The kidnapper, on the other hand, was just plain dumb - I'm not sure what kind of twist Kayla was going for here. One thing that did surprise me was that the baby wasn't dead, so that's a plus. However, it wasn't enough to make up for the rest of the book.
Overall, I gave "Tragic" three stars. The final twist at the end was somewhat cool, but it didn't redeem how poorly the plot was executed. If you're looking for a psychological thriller with well-developed characters and a good plot, this might not be the book for you.
I'm Almost Done with A Couple Next Door
I recently finished "A Couple Next Door" by Sherry Lawson (I don't know how to say her name, but I'll get it right next time). This was one of my library's free audiobooks, and I decided to give it a try. The premise seemed interesting - a couple who goes missing, and the investigation that follows.
Unfortunately, the book didn't live up to my expectations. The plot was predictable, and I figured out who the killer was pretty quickly. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read the book yet, but the twist at the end wasn't as surprising as I thought it would be. The main characters were also kind of one-dimensional - they didn't really add anything to the story.
I did appreciate the author's take on mental illness, however. It was handled well and added a layer of depth to the story. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to make up for the rest of the book. Overall, I gave "A Couple Next Door" three stars. If you're looking for a psychological thriller with a good plot and well-developed characters, this might not be the book for you.
I'm Looking Forward to Buddy Reading with Britney
After finishing "A Couple Next Door", I decided to try something different. I downloaded "Strange Grace" by Britany (I think that's how it's spelled) on a whim. I had previously bought it for my friend Britney as a birthday gift, and she reached out to me to ask if we could buddy read it together.
I'm really excited about this, actually. I love reading with friends, and "Strange Grace" has gotten great reviews. It's a psychological thriller that explores themes of trauma and mental illness - both topics that interest me greatly. I'll be diving into the book soon, and I'd love for you guys to join in on the discussion.
In the meantime, I'm almost done with my current audiobook, "Tragic" by Kayla. As I mentioned earlier, it just didn't live up to my expectations - but I'm always open to surprises! After finishing that one, I plan to move on to "Baby Teeth" by Zoey (I think that's how her name is spelled) and "Let You Go" by Claire Mackintosh.
My Plan for the Rest of the Day
As I finish writing this article, I realize I'm running low on time. My plan for the rest of the day is to wrap up some other work tasks and then head home to listen to some more audiobooks. I've got a bunch of titles downloaded that I want to get through ASAP.
I've also been feeling quite exhausted lately, so I need to make sure I'm taking care of myself. Reading has always been my go-to way to relax, but even with an audiobook, I feel like I should be getting some rest too. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day - I have plans to finish up this article and then start on one of the other books I've downloaded.
As I wrap up this article, I want to thank you guys for listening in on my vlog today. It's been a pleasure sharing my thoughts with you, even if they didn't all turn out as planned. If you have any questions or comments about "Tragic" or any of the other books I've mentioned, feel free to leave them below. Until next time, happy reading!