Vi’s Comments (group member since Jun 04, 2011)

Vi’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Just putting it out here... the book is in a lot of ways remarkably similar to Genuine Lies but I find GL was done better. If you liked this, I highly recommend it. A little dated but not so much.

Day 2

5. Margaret is lying – and probably not just about one singular thing. Do you think she’s even telling Alice and Hayden the same story? Personally I’m also really curious where Margaret’s sister Laura is – to me it feels like she might be key to the whole story… anything specific that made you perk up?
Yes, she is definitely lying. I’m not sure why this agenda and since I finished the book, the reason is not satisfactorily explained.

7. I was a little shocked when they were already kissing 25% in – and then not surprised when Hayden rejects Alice. Do you think he’s telling the truth when he says “I’m not going to hook up with someone whose dream job I’m about to take from them”? Or is there something else going on?
Definitely something going on.

8. We get quite a bit of detail on Alice’s job and research process as a journalist: what she’s searching for, working with fact-checkers, etc. Do you enjoy these types of details, i.e. minutae of characters’ jobs and hobbies?
Yes, a little. It is always nice to read about the process instead of just the results.

9. I’ve been to Hearst Castle, but long before I actually knew anything about him. The Ives family seems to be quite obviously inspired by him (and I guess he was name-dropped for plausible deniability). Is there a specific family dynasty you’re really interested in?
No, not really in the American families as I’m not aware of most of them. But from India or Europe, yes, would love to read more.

Bonus Question: Genuine Lies was the first (similar) book I read and Evelyn Hugo built on that. EH is trying to set up a mystery but it really does’t have the same immersive feeling. Sadly, this book failed on this aspect for me as I could guess the twist near the end.

Day 1 DQs

1.) Emily Henry is a popular contemporary romance author and a fair few of her books have been previous NBRC BOM selections. Any expectations for this book going in?
So far, most if not all of her books have been hits for me. I expect to really enjoy this book

2.) What are your first impressions of Alice? And sending that drink to Hayden?
I like her but also a little annoying. She’s nice but naive.

3.) Would you agree to the month long trial or tell Margaret she's a nutter and move on to something else? Why do you think Margaret is doing things this way?
I would agree - especially in place of Alice and really get to know Margaret. But also, this is not a great mystery-romance like TJR or NR (Genuine Lies) so I don’t foresee a big twist.

4.) After learning a few tidbits about Hayden's family and how he grew up, did you opinion change a bit on his character?
A bit but the characters for this book seem to be sunshine and Grumpy so of course they will have a story. Neither for me is believable.

Fiona wrote: "I had a little accident at work today and full on crashed into the edge of my monitor with my eye 🫠
currently sporting the worst headache and absolutely not able to read 😭 I hate everything 😂"

Oh. Hope your eye is feeling better today Fiona!

Ooh, about to finish Great Big Beautiful Life. Will fit the cover or letter G, E for Egypt. I will also do the DQs. Is there a last date for the DQs to count?

Great. I will add that to the spreadsheet. It has a good page count too.

I was looking for the cow on cover task for India (and it's difficult!). I saw this - . Near to the back, it's a cow or a bull (not sure). Will that work?

True. Maybe the mods have another challenge up their sleeve.

The next Dresden book Fool Moon will work for the new Mini 2 task. I also have longer books that I will use this opportunity to read.

Me too.. Kinda shocked that Mini 2 will end....

Finished last night and still digesting.

In a lot of ways, some of it was expected - I mean, it's not very cliffhanger-y but there are a lot of balls up in the air.

(view spoiler)[Oh Shallan is definitely pregnant - not sure what to think about it. Or the fact that all of the MCs are split..

About Syl - if she is head spren, would her going with Kaladin (if she is) have an effect?

Weird thing - both Kaladin and Szeth attained the 5th ideal but we don't know what that means. I think Shalan did too - is Sanderson intentionally not explaining?

With the first arc, the character growth of Kaladin and Dalinar is finished, I guess.. Will there be new radiants in the second half?

One of the best part of this book was Adolin - I liked how we got to see his POV and his character arc growth. Kaladin was annoying in the beginning with the thera-speak but admittedly he got better.

Feels like Shallan played a very minor role in this book.

For one I'm glad to have a break but at the same time, I don't want Sanderson to delay the next 5 books too much.

There were other interludes from book 1 that are also left open. I wonder if Sanderson will link all of them. (hide spoiler)]

Oh thanks ladies! Last week was such a rush that I forgot about this book. I'll keep in mind

Oh thanks for catching that Mel.

Hey everyone! Was AWOL for a bit. My friends came to visit Netherlands with their family and we had a blast meeting after a long time. It was tiring and I barely got time to read. They left yesterday and I'm just lazing around today.

But yesterday was far too hot - no AC here too as it's not common and we went out boating. Far far too hot.

Happily, no miscommunication. The book could have had an edit to make it slightly short but apart from that was good. I finished it quickly so always a plus (as opposed to putting it down constantly).

It was a good reading month for me too.

Archangel's Ascension hit harder than I was prepared for - the series is getting to an end and the author took into a direction that I didn't expect to (even though it was foreshadowed)

Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide - First of this kind for me even though I have extensively read Jim Corbett when I was 14 years old. The tone is totally different and audiobook elevated the experience more than normal reading.

First-Time Caller - a cute, non-idiotic romance after a long time.

I didn't like Splendor - the last 20% especially made me mad.

Ooh, the cheese looks good! I would like to try it too.

I finished The Awakening and even though I have a long TBR I don't know what to read.....

Thanks, Mel! Fiji turned out to be the easiest 'hard' country for me. Who would have guessed?!!

I read Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh.. It will work for Fiji but that also means Fiji will be done. Shall I place there? Or if someone else wants to read a book set in Fiji, I can place it somewhere else.

oh, no problem. I will be reading The Awakening. Hopefully I can get through it. 🤞

Mel, it just says Read a book that is on the Best Unknown but must be Known books List. Does it have to be within a specific page number?