Strange Pictures — No matter where you are, everyone is always connected

Strange Pictures by Uketsu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Okay, another Uketsu review! I have to say, after reading both Strange Houses and this one, I actually prefer Strange Pictures. The story feels more engaging, more characters involved, and I love how their lives all connect in unexpected ways. It’s like uncovering a puzzle, starting from small fragments until you finally see the bigger picture.

I would sayyy this one definitely woke up my brain that's been collecting dust trying to connect all the dots. It’s not the deepest plot out there, but hey, it’s got enough intrigue to keep you flipping pages. I appreciate how it gives my mind a break from the classics and research papers, yet still keeps me hooked and curious all the way through.

The Housemaid — Not your typical drama

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked up The Housemaid because I’ve seen it everywhere and I wanted to know what all the hype was about. I’ll admit, I was hooked right from the start. Freida McFadden writes in such a bingeable way—short chapters, quick pacing, and just enough mystery that you keep saying, “Okay, just one more chapter,” until you realize you’ve almost finished the whole thing. While the story leans heavily on familiar thriller tropes, which can make some twists predictable if you’re a seasoned reader. Character development also takes a backseat to suspense, leaving certain decisions feeling convenient rather than organic, but overall it’s a simple, entertaining read worth picking up.

Sharp Objects — Not what I expected

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I went into this with really high expectations because the author wrote Gone Girl (which I loved, and the movie was great too). Sadly, Sharp Objects isn't... It had a slow build-up that made me think it was going somewhere, but in the end it just disappointed me. The pacing dragged, the “twists” were predictable, and I honestly just wanted to get it over with or not finish at all.

What really pushed me away was how irresponsibly this was written. There’s a point where the narrator basically says if very young girls put themselves in risky situations (yes, these undeveloped frontal lobe kids), it’s ‘their fault’. Add to that the disturbing depiction of 13-year-olds drinking, using drug$, and getting r@p3d by six men.. That’s not edgy, it’s gross.. And don’t even get me started on the main character, a 30-year-old, from being reserved to banging a teenager boy, and doing drug$ with her 13-year-old sister?? What a character development. Are you okay, Gillian? Realistically, ages, actions, morals, none of it lines up. I could rant forever, but I’m not wasting another second on this disaster; I’ve suffered enough already.

I originally rated this 2 stars, but the more I thought about it the more frustrated I got, so I dropped it to 1. Maybe it’s because I expected the same level of brilliance as Gone Girl, but this felt flat, disturbing for the wrong reasons, and not worth the time I put into it. Honestly, I wish I had just DNF’d.