If you’re new around here, Things I’ve Read Recently is a series of posts I do that are basically mini-reviews of books that I either forgot to review, didn’t have enough to say for a full review, or just didn’t want to do a full post about for whatever reason.
Barbed Wire Heart by Tess Sharpe
Published: March 6th, 2018 by Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Adult Thriller
Binding: Paperback
Page Count: 401 plus a bunch of extras including book club questions and
Part of a series? Nope
Got via: The library
Summary (from goodreads): Harley McKenna is the only child of North County’s biggest criminal. Duke McKenna’s run more guns, cooked more meth, and killed more men than anyone around. Harley’s been working for him since she was sixteen, dreading the day he’d deem her ready to rule the rural drug empire he’s built.
Her time’s run out. The Springfields, her family’s biggest rivals, are moving in. And they’re coming for Duke’s only weak spot: his daughter.
Duke’s raised her to be deadly – he never counted on her being disloyal. But if Harley wants to survive and protect the people she loves, she’s got to take out both Duke’s operation and the Springfields. Blowing up meth labs is dangerous business, and getting caught will be the end of her, but Harley has one advantage. She is her father’s daughter. And McKennas always win.
Thoughts: Oh, this was good. This is the third book I’ve read by Tess Sharpe and I’ve liked them all. This is the first adult book I’ve read from Sharpe and I think the only adult book they have out at the moment, but I would love to read more. Adult or YA, honestly. I really like the main characters Sharpe writes.
I really enjoyed Harley as a main character. A book about a woman who’s basically running an organized crime operation is not something I’ve read before. And it is super cool reading about how she has to balance the fucked up things she has to do to stay alive with her own moral compass. She does what she thinks is right and what she thinks is right isn’t always what other people would think is right. Especially because Harley has a passion about protecting and uplifting other women and helping them stand up for themselves. It’s a really beautiful thing, honestly. As much as the book is about Harley’s relationship with her father, it could not exist without her relationships with other women.
This is also a super interesting setting. It’s rural California, including the backwoods. The things this reminded me most of were things set in the southern US. It’s got the same kind of vibe where sometimes I was just reading it with an accent in my head. It’s the isolation, I think.
Actually, you know what this really reminded me of? Winter’s Bone, that movie from 2010. If you liked that movie, read this. If you like thrillers in general, I’d say check this one out. It’s a good one.
Representation: There’s like one queer character but it’s not a big thing. Harley’s love interest, Will, is Indigenous. I wish the book had mentioned what tribe he is, because it’s mentioned that’s something he wants to know, as someone who grew up not knowing a lot about that part of his heritage. And he connects with that side of his family in the book, but it’s just not mentioned.
Content notes: All the things basically. Violence, gun violence, mentions of rape and sexual assault, drugs, death, racism. It’s not the most gory thing ever but it’s fairly graphic at times. Link here to a more detailed list from the author.
Counting Thyme by Melanie Conklin
Published: April 12th, 2016 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Genre: Contemporary MG
Binding: Hardcover
Page Count: 300 plus acknowledgements
Part of a series? Nope
Got via: The library
Summary (from goodreads): When eleven-year-old Thyme Owens’ little brother, Val, is accepted into a new cancer drug trial, it’s just the second chance that he needs. But it also means the Owens family has to move to New York, thousands of miles away from Thyme’s best friend and everything she knows and loves. The island of Manhattan doesn’t exactly inspire new beginnings, but Thyme tries to embrace the change for what it is: temporary.
After Val’s treatment shows real promise and Mr. Owens accepts a full-time position in the city, Thyme has to face the frightening possibility that the move to New York is permanent. Thyme loves her brother, and knows the trial could save his life—she’d give anything for him to be well—but she still wants to go home, although the guilt of not wanting to stay is agonizing. She finds herself even more mixed up when her heart feels the tug of new friends, a first crush, and even a crotchety neighbor and his sweet whistling bird. All Thyme can do is count the minutes, the hours, and days, and hope time can bring both a miracle for Val and a way back home.
Thoughts: So when I did the midyear book freakout thing questions, one of them was about a book that had made you cry, and I didn’t have one then but this book sure tried to change that! I didn’t fully break down, but I got choked up. I keep trying to think of a word to describe it and what I’m coming up with is that this is a heart book. Some books make you laugh or are exciting and some live in your heart for a while and this is one of those.
It’s also really, really thoughtful. It’s a lot more modern than books I grew up with similar premises, obviously, and I think that’s really important. Val being sick is an important part of the story, but there’s a lot of focus about how it affects the rest of the family, too. It especially talks about how Thyme’s parents trying to protect her (and her older sister) from what’s going on by not telling them details is really scary for them. It makes Thyme feel like she can’t talk to them and she bottles things up and feels really alone.
I also love the other adults in her life who really step up when Thyme needs that extra bit of attention and help support her and her family.
Representation: It’s New York and it’s represented fairly realistically. Thyme’s neighbour is Jewish, her crush is Black, her friend is Filipino.
Content notes: Cancer, obviously, and some fairly scary side effects of the medication Val’s taking. The possibility of child death is discussed. There’s also a fire in the book, but no one is hurt. Also, this is not a Newberry book, if you get what I mean.
The Spite House by Johnny Compton
Published: February 7th, 2023 by Tor Nightfire
Genre: Adult Horror
Binding: Hardcover
Page Count: 260 plus acknowledgements
Part of a series? Nope
Got via: The library
Summary (from goodreads): Eric Ross is on the run from a mysterious past with his two daughters in tow. Having left his wife, his house, his whole life behind in Maryland, he’s desperate for money–it’s not easy to find safe work when you can’t provide references, you can’t stay in one place for long, and you’re paranoid that your past is creeping back up on you.
When he comes across the strange ad for the Masson House in Degener, Texas, Eric thinks they may have finally caught a lucky break. The Masson property, notorious for being one of the most haunted places in Texas, needs a caretaker of sorts. The owner is looking for proof of paranormal activity. All they need to do is stay in the house and keep a detailed record of everything that happens there. Provided the house’s horrors don’t drive them all mad, like the caretakers before them.
The job calls to Eric, not just because there’s a huge payout if they can make it through, but because he wants to explore the secrets of the spite house. If it is indeed haunted, maybe it’ll help him understand the uncanny power that clings to his family, driving them from town to town, making them afraid to stop running.
Thoughts: This was the Literally Dead Book Club pick for March which is how I found out about it, and I’m kind of just landing in the middle when it comes to my feelings. There’s a lot here that I liked but somethings just didn’t work great for me.
Like I really liked Eric and his relationship with his daughters. He’s the kind of character I really like, and I loved how much he was willing to do to protect and care for his daughters. But I almost feel like there wasn’t enough time spent with him and them. Or enough time actually in the house, either. For a short book, it honestly dragged sometimes and I just wanted more. More action, more time with Eric and his daughters, just… more.
However, I know a lot of people really loved this one. So absolutely do not let me turn you off it if you think you’d like it.
Representation: Eric and his daughters are Black.
Content notes: Child death, murder, discussions of racism, general spookiness.
Your Life is Mine by Nathan Ripley
Published: June 4th, 2019 by Atria Books
Genre: Adult Thriller
Binding: Paperback
Page Count: 286 plus an acknowledgements and an ad.
Part of a series? Nope
Got via: The library
Summary (from goodreads): Blanche Potter never expected to face her past again—but she can’t escape it.
Blanche, an up-and-coming filmmaker, has distanced herself in every way she can from her father, the notorious killer and cult leader, Chuck Varner. In 1996, when she was a small child, he went on a shooting spree before turning the gun on himself.
Now, Blanche learns that her mother has been murdered. She returns to her childhood home, where she soon discovers there’s more to the death than police are willing to reveal. The officer who’s handling the case is holding information back, and a journalist who’s nosing around the investigation is taking an unusual interest in Blanche’s family.
Blanche begins to suspect that Chuck Varner’s cult has found a new life, and that her mother’s murder was just the beginning of the cult’s next chapter.
Then another killing occurs.
Thoughts: I really did not enjoy this at all. I really liked the idea of it, and I was super intrigued by the cult stuff, but it was so boring. I kinda don’t even really want to talk about it anymore because it really just. Did not work for me.
Representation: Nah. Blanche has a brown best friend.
Content notes: Murder, gun violence, mass shootings, references to sexual violence, a bit of gore.
Well, I liked half of the books in this post.
Have you read any? What were your thoughts?
– Laina
Laina Has Too Much Spare Time 