Review: The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

Title: The Woman in Cabin 10
Author: Ruth Ware
Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press
Published: July 19, 2016
Hardcover: 340 pgs

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In this tightly wound story, Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. At first, Lo’s stay is nothing but pleasant: the cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for—and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo’s desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong… With surprising twists and a setting that proves as uncomfortably claustrophobic as it is eerily beautiful, Ruth Ware offers up another intense read.

This is one of the first books I've read that was not recommended to me by someone I know and trust. I was in the library one day, saw this novel on one of their "Read Now!" shelves, and was hooked by the description. Who doesn't love a good mystery? Who wouldn't love an intriguing story with a cast of characters stuck on a cruise ship?

The only problem: there wasn't a great cast of characters. Now, don't get me wrong, there were a bunch of folks on the ship, but I feel like they weren't given any justice. When you're reading a great mystery (especially one that some reviews have compared to Agatha Christie's), you want to feel like every single person is a suspect. You want to get thrown off your game time and time again. Unfortunately, that's not what happened here. We met all of the characters, but there were really only two or three that stood out as actual suspects. I wish the author would have taken the time to flesh out the characters' stories more -- to make me believe they were the guilty ones.

Overall, the book had a good concept, but I don't think it was executed well. The mystery's resolution (which I won't tell you) was just unbelievable to me. I didn't actually believe that what happened in this book could actually occur in real life.

And finally, I'm all for flawed protagonists, but come on. Our main character, Lo, is jam packed with flaws. There are just so many that I feel like, in real life, if everything that happened in the book happened to her in real life, she'd be huddled in a corner crying. Not the kind of heroine I'm looking for.

This book has gotten rave reviews, and I'm sorry to be one of the few dissenters. But did you read the book? What did you think?

2 out of 5 stars.

Review: White Trash Beautiful by Teresa Mummert!

White Trash Beautiful
By Teresa Mummert
Paperback, 240 pages
Published July 9th 2013 by Gallery Books

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A word-of-mouth bestseller that’s captivating readers with its honesty, grit, and headstrong heroine, White Trash Beautiful is a story for anyone who has ever felt trapped in life, cheated by love—and longed for something more . . .

Cass Daniels isn’t waiting for her knight in shining armor. She knows that girls like her don’t get a happily ever after. Not if you live in a trailer with your mom, work at a greasy spoon diner, and get leered at by old men. Maybe that’s why she puts up with Jackson—her poor excuse for a boyfriend, who treats her like dirt. Cass has learned to accept her lot in life. That is, until he walks into her diner. . . .

His name is Tucker White, and he’s different from any man Cass has ever known. Tall, tattooed, and bad-ass gorgeous, he’s the lead singer of the rock band Damaged. From the moment they meet, Tucker sees something in Cass he just can’t shake. Something beautiful. Something haunted. Something special. And he’s determined to find out what it is—if only he can get her to open up and let him in. . . .

White Trash Beautiful is a story that, for me, was up and down and I didn't know how I felt about it one hundred percent until days later after reading it.

This story had so much room for a lot more and had so much potential. It has a great opening, good middle, and a pounding ending, but it was so predictable. There were times where I knew exactly what would happen next, so there weren't really any surprises for me. There were also a lot of moments where I found certain turn of events to be too easy and too convenient leaving me thinking really? Just like that? I guess wanted a bit more of a struggle, drama, and emotion.

I also could not get a feel for Tucker and Cass’s romance. Honestly, at times I felt like Tucker felt bad for Cass and that is why he was giving her any attention. It wasn't until almost near the end that I started to believe he really cared for her. Cass makes a lot of stupid decisions when it comes to her mother and Jackson, but you can’t help but feel sorry for her. She has been through so much and you sort of get her. It all makes sense why she lets the things in her life happen to her. She deserved someone like Tucker in her life.

Overall, there were just too many little issues I had with this book that it weighs out the positive. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it enough to finish it, but sadly it did not blow me away like it did to so many readers. It’s a great read if you’re looking to zoom through a book. You can definitely read it in on sitting at the beach, or a long car ride.

If you've read White Trash Beautiful, I would love to know what you thought of it. Let me know!