Review: In Her Eyes by Sarah Alderson

Genre: Thriller

Released: November 14th, 2019

Page count: 320 pages

Summary: Ava’s life seems to be picture perfect. Her husband’s finally made enough money for them to live in a large, beautiful home, and her daughter managed to beat cancer. Then a home invasion leaves her daughter fighting for her life – and it seems like the perpetrator may be closer to home than she could ever imagine.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Review: In Her Eyes was a thoroughly enjoyable thriller! It definitely kept you guessing, and the twists were very well thought out. I just didn’t find myself connecting with the characters very much – I didn’t feel a sense of urgency to find out what was going to happen to them, so I wasn’t really racing forward in the book, which I usually do with thrillers. I couldn’t even really get invested in the plight of June, the daughter. Also, who forgets to feed their hamster until it dies? Maybe I’m a bit too much of an animal lover, especially small animals, and I do realize the characters were a little busy, but that just made the main character seem a little heartless. I don’t know. Maybe I’m too invested in the plight of hamsters! (Humans dying in books? Fine. Animals dying in books? No!)

Overall, it was a good thriller. Right when you think you’ve figured it out, the rug’s pulled out from under you and the book is heading in a different direction! I just wish I liked/connected with the characters a bit more.

I recommend this novel for anyone who likes thrillers, and probably bonus points if you don’t like hamsters/are able to handle animal deaths better than I am.

Review: Photos of You by Tammy Robinson

Genre: Fiction/Romance

Released: February 18, 2020

Page count: 352 pages

Summary: When confronted with the news that her breast cancer has come back and is now terminal, 28-year-old Ava decides to have the wedding of her dreams, despite lacking a groom. As she begins wedding planning, she falls for handsome photographer James. Is it too late for her to fall in love?

Rating: 5/5 stars

Review: I almost never read romances. I really love Me Before You, though, and this book was compared to that, so I decided I’d give it a try. I’m so glad I did! It really focuses a lot on Ava’s relationships with her family and friends, and her fear and thoughts as she confronts living with a terminal disease, than it does just gushy romance. Although there is definitely a healthy dose of romance sprinkled in! The writing is gorgeous and really draws you in. I found myself really feeling for Ava as the book went on, and I loved the little advice columns sprinkled through the book where Ava shared her thoughts on how life had changed since her cancer diagnosis. It shocked me when I got to the end and found out that the author wasn’t a cancer survivor – her portrayal seemed so raw and real that I was certain it was from experience.

I recommend this to anyone who loves romance, or books that make you cry – or, as I mentioned before, Me Before You. I know on one of the covers it was compared to Nicholas Sparks, and I think that’s definitely a good comparison.

I was given a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.