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Thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: July 20th, 2021
320 Pages
Synopsis: HAPPY HOUSE HUNTING…
Nelle and Evan Pereira were thrilled to close on their “forever home,” a spacious paradise nestled against a state forest in Massachusetts. Three months later, on a brisk Saturday morning, their peace is destroyed when an intruder captures Nelle home by herself. Quickly overpowered by the aggressive stranger, she’s forced down to the cold, musty basement where he ties her to a chair. The intruder has a singular, if unusual, demand: he wants her to make a phone call. One that Nelle isn’t confident she can make, even though her life depends on it.
Desperate to see herself and her husband to safety, Nelle doesn’t yet realize this was no chance encounter—it was a carefully planned attack. With no one to hear them scream, their secluded home feels horrifyingly isolated. And before this long day is through, Nelle and Evan, who share a dangerous secret, will bring a violent reckoning down upon all of them. (Goodreads)
After reading the premise for Closing Costs, I was so excited, especially as it’s set in Massachusetts, the state I lived in most of my life, but unfortunately this story didn’t work out for me. It began quite strongly, with Nelle being held captive during a home invasion, but soon after it rapidly went downhill for me. First, there was too much padding, which slowed the pace down to a crawl. Too many details about minor characters that I really didn’t care about, and trivial minutiae about house hunting and real estate which seemed to go on forever. There were multiple timelines which I found confusing at times and made the narrative disjointed. There’s a lot of repetitive violence, which if there was any purpose behind it I wouldn’t have had a problem, but this was just violence for the sake of violence. And finally, I never warmed up to any of the characters, not even Nelle or Evan. They were either stereotypical bad guys, or flat and one-dimensional. I confess by the halfway point I resorted to skimming some of the pages just so I could reach the end. Closing Costs wound up being a disappointment for me, but as always, if the premise peaks your interest, please try it out for yourself.
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beetleypete said:
Oh well, you have had some good ones lately, so the occasional dud is to be expected. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
No whining from me Pete.
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Mae Clair said:
A definite pass for me, especially given the “violence for the sake of violence.”
I’m fairly new with NetGalley reads, but so far I’ve only had one dud. I guess they’re to be expected now and then.
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I’ve had such good luck this year Mae. I really can’t complain.
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fragglerocking said:
Well I waas thinking ‘this sounds good’ and then I wasn’t. 🤣
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It started off with a bang and then just dwindled Fraggle.
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fragglerocking said:
Not doing that then. I finished the SUnshine book, have to wait for the sequel.
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Did you like it?
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fragglerocking said:
I did, it’s what I call a popcorn book, but it had a good story and made me smile.
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Yes, a popcorn book exactly! ☺️
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cheryloreglia said:
I just got the Sunshine book in the mail too! I’ll start it this weekend! But the sequel doesn’t come out until next year? Boohoo! C
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Yay! You’ve got to let me know what you think! And the sequel, A Good Day For Chardonnay will be out July 27, 2021.
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cheryloreglia said:
Oh good, I can make it to July! I let you know what I think of the first one soon. C
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Carrie said:
Yay I don’t have this one! LOL
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I have a feeling you’d have the same problems as me Carrie.
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Sophie @BewareOfTheReader said:
Ouch!
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Sorry.😕
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cheryloreglia said:
I’ll pass, I have a stack of your book recommendations to get through first Kim! Someday I want you to do a post on your top ten favorite books of all time! Followed by the 10 books everyone should read in their lifetime. In fact you should write a book about good reads as you age! I’d be the first in line! C
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I keep meaning to do that! The post, not the book. I’m just not that secure enough.🤗
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cheryloreglia said:
Do it! This is you’re area of expertise, and it doesn’t matter if someone thinks differently, you’ll expose us to that which you know, and for me that would be gold! C
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
🤗
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Carla said:
We can’t love them all and you have read some great ones lately. I am not one to enjoy violence for the sake of violence either. Moving on.
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I’ve been extremely fortunate this year!
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petespringerauthor said:
Thanks for calling them like you see them, Kim. Many others can’t, which is why I trust your evaluations.
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Pete. I hate giving poor reviews, but it’s important to me to be honest to my followers.
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markbierman said:
I guess this one won’t be going on the TBR list.
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Well, if you’re intrigued by the premise, I’d say go over to Goodreads and check out some other reviews.
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markbierman said:
Will do. 🙂
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The Hook said:
Honesty is vital for writers who want to evolve, so good work.
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By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thank you. I don’t enjoy giving someone’s book a poor review, but I do believe in being honest to my followers.
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