ABSOLUTE CINEMA OH WOW.

torn between a 3.75-4⭐️ rating.

I really didn’t enjoy the housemaid at all when i read it but I thought I’d give freida another shot and try reading one of her books via audiobook and see if that was any better and… YEPPPPPP!!!! her prose translates perfectly for audiobook narration imo and i had so much fun. It also helped that this was a full cast narration so it was really immersive. I was GAGGED by so many of the twists. And i loved the concept of this book- who doesn’t love a female rage plot?

Maybe thrillers are more of an audiobook listen than a physical read for me.. or at least freida mcfadden books. But i had a really fun time with this!!

I really enjoyed this. I loved the setting of Cairo and I haven’t read many stories like this so I also really enjoyed being introduced to Djinn and the other supernatural beings we encountered in this. The plot was interesting, although I did feel like some parts dragged on a little. But nevertheless I still enjoyed it. The numerous smaller plot twists were great and I didn’t expect them. I LOVED Hadia. She was my favourite character. I also really enjoyed the political side of this book and the way it depicted racism, colonialism, and misogyny etc. It was as interesting to me as the murder mystery part of the plot.

I’m so glad this was one of the books for the spring seasonal readalong- I’d never heard of it before and it’s not typically a genre I look out for so I’m glad it was included as I probably wouldn’t have felt the push to read it (or even know it existed) and I would’ve missed out on a great book. Yay!💓

torn between a 3.5-3.75⭐️

this was beautiful. absolutely beautiful. life is full of possibilities and it’s never over until it is. the writing and whole message of this story was so moving. i wish i had read it physically instead of listened to the audio book because there are so many passages that stood out to me and i want to be able to have them with me.. i will definitely be re-reading this. the mental health messages throughout were beautiful, although i think the continual focus of anti-depressants in lives was a bit tiresome/ was not needed (I don’t necessarily think that being on anti-depressants means the life isn’t happy etc).

the concept of the book was so interesting too but i will say i got a little bored after the first few lives because it felt a bit repetitive- but the final life & the ending was beautifully executed in my opinion. i’m really glad I read this.