Reading This Was a Slog…Book Review, The Bucket List

Before We Say Goodbye by Boo Walker —...

Reading This Was a Slog…Book Review, The Bucket List

1 out of 5 stars ~~ Book Review

My fans and friends know that I’ve always aimed to support fellow writers. Even when my opinion falls short of a rave, I strive to offer constructive critique. But today, I’m taking the gloves off to review The Bucket List by Rachel Hanna—hoping the sting of this critique might serve as a teachable moment… or several.

A Format That Fails the Basics

Let’s start with the basics: formatting. Writing 101 teaches the importance of justified text—it gives the page clean, crisp edges and a polished appearance. This book ignored that entirely. The font size was awkward too: larger than standard, yet not quite “LARGE PRINT.” It felt like formatting limbo.

First-Person Fatigue

Then there’s the choice of tense. First-person narration can work, but here it felt like a shortcut. In my opinion, it’s often a sign of lazy storytelling—used to bypass deeper character development or narrative complexity.

Missing Front Matter

The front matter was surprisingly sparse. No copyright information. No list of other titles by the author. No acknowledgements. These omissions made the book feel unfinished, like a draft rather than a published work.

Needs More Seasoning

Now, onto the writing itself. Rachel Hanna shows potential, but she needs more seasoning—and a good thesaurus, by her side, wouldn’t hurt.

Stop Explaining the Joke

Her tendency to “mansplain” her own humor and plot points was frustrating. Rachel, trust your readers. We’re smart. We get it.

Anxiety Overload

Jill’s anxiety, a central theme, was hammered home so relentlessly that it became exhausting.

Redundant Repetition

Repetition was another issue: the author would describe Jill’s emotion or action, then immediately echo it in the next line, as herself. It felt redundant and clunky.

A Weak Ending Wrapped in Explanation

After slogging through the entire book, the final paragraph delivered yet another dose of “mansplaining”—a summation of the story’s lessons, as if the narrative hadn’t made them clear. That kind of wrap-up suggests the story itself wasn’t strong enough to stand on its own.

Website Placement Misfire and Typo Trouble

And finally, as the story closes on the last page, the author tacked on her website address—without ceremony or formatting. Typically, this kind of promotional link belongs on a separate page, ideally paired with a graphic or call-to-action that feels intentional.
To make matters worse, there was a typo: “Visit Rachel’s store at store. Rachelhannaauthor.com.” That stray period and awkward phrasing made it feel rushed and unprofessional—like an afterthought rather than a curated invitation.
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