en-US Wed, 30 Apr 2025 05:07:48 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 224004049 “So clever and fresh with a wild and incredibly satisfying twist at the end.�� —Lisa Jewell, #1 New York Times bestselling author

A dinner party in a beautiful Notting Hill townhouse turns into a sinister game, as six old friends are forced to spill their darkest secrets…or else.

Six friends reunite in London to celebrate the life of their recently deceased ex-employer, a professor that brought them together in 1999 to help build a dating website based on psychological testing.

But what is meant to be a night of bittersweet nostalgia soon becomes a twisted and deadly game when the old friends find themselves held at gunpoint. They are given an ultimatum: reveal their darkest secrets to the group or pick each other off one-by-one.

It soon becomes clear that their current predicament is related to their shared past. The love questionnaire they helped develop in 1999 for the dating site was also turned into a tool for weeding out The Wasp Trap. This and the other tragic events of that summer long ago may help reveal the truth behind a killer hiding in plain sight.

Alternating between the past and present with a colorful ensemble of characters, The Wasp Trap is a fast-paced and twisty thrill ride that is perfect for fans of Lucy Foley and Alice Feeney.]]> 336 Mark Edwards 1668204770 Rachel 4
The Wasp Trap is a story about six friends who meet up after 25 years to celebrate the life of Sebastian Marlowe, their former professor. These six friends meet up at Theo & Georgina’s beautiful house, and realize they have a bit of catching up to do since they haven’t seen each other since 1999. It was in 1999, that the six friends were creating a dating website together (with their late professor), and it was with this website that they also created a test to identify psychopaths. Between Will (who the story is narrated by), Sophie, Rohan, Theo, Georgina, and Lily- is there a psychopath amongst the group?

At Georgina & Theo’s dinner party to celebrate the life of Sebastian Marlowe, they are locked in their dining room and held at gunpoint. No one is leaving this room until someone reveals a secret they’ve been keeping since the summer of 1999. Who holds the secret? And will each member leave alive?

I enjoyed the flashbacks to 1999, and then back to present day in this story. There were also several twists that I didn’t see coming. However, if I’m being honest, I’m not real crazy how this book ended. I also think I missed a paragraph (or page), because I have no idea what happened to two of the characters in this story (Amber and Callum) ]]> 3.89 2025
author: Mark Edwards
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/30
date added: 2025/04/30
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
After reading the synopsis for this book, and viewing the title (which I found enticing), I decided to give this book a shot- and I am so glad that I did. It was fast read with short chapters (yay for that!), and there were twists galore!

The Wasp Trap is a story about six friends who meet up after 25 years to celebrate the life of Sebastian Marlowe, their former professor. These six friends meet up at Theo & Georgina’s beautiful house, and realize they have a bit of catching up to do since they haven’t seen each other since 1999. It was in 1999, that the six friends were creating a dating website together (with their late professor), and it was with this website that they also created a test to identify psychopaths. Between Will (who the story is narrated by), Sophie, Rohan, Theo, Georgina, and Lily- is there a psychopath amongst the group?

At Georgina & Theo’s dinner party to celebrate the life of Sebastian Marlowe, they are locked in their dining room and held at gunpoint. No one is leaving this room until someone reveals a secret they’ve been keeping since the summer of 1999. Who holds the secret? And will each member leave alive?

I enjoyed the flashbacks to 1999, and then back to present day in this story. There were also several twists that I didn’t see coming. However, if I’m being honest, I’m not real crazy how this book ended. I also think I missed a paragraph (or page), because I have no idea what happened to two of the characters in this story (Amber and Callum)
]]> 216971202 'Compulsive reading. Compassionate, lyrical and full of devilment' Louise Kennedy, author of Trespasses

1973. In a close-knit community on Ireland’s west coast, a baby is found abandoned on the beach. Named Brendan Bonnar by Ambrose, the fisherman who adopts him, Brendan will become a source of fascination and hope for a town caught in the storm of a rapidly changing world.

Ambrose, a man more comfortable at sea than on land, brings Brendan into his home out of love. But it’s a decision that will fracture his family and force him to try to understand himself and those he cares for.

Bookended by the arrival and departure of a single mesmerizing boy, Garrett Carr's The Boy From the Sea is an exploration of the ties that make us and bind us, as a family and community move irresistibly towards the future.]]> 336 Garrett Carr 0593802888 Rachel 3
This story takes place in Ireland, 1973. A baby boy is found abandoned on the beach. The whole town is fascinated by this baby, and it is the fisherman Ambrose, who is able to take him home for the night and then proceeds to adopt him.

Ambrose and his wife, Christine, already have a son when they bring this baby home and adopt him. Their son, Declan, is not very happy with his new brother. The town is still fascinated by this boy who was found by the sea, and Declan is very jealous of him. They named the boy from the sea, Brendan- and Declan swears because they are not blood related, Brendan will never be his brother.

Through this story we learn about the lives of Ambrose, Christine, Declan, and Brendan (the Bonnar’s). We also learn a bit about Christine’s father, and her sister, Phyllis- who was absolutely dreadful. Phyllis was a very unlikable character for me. We learn a bit about the townspeople, and also their thoughts about Brendan, who is “the boy from the sea��.

I did enjoy reading about Brendan throughout this story, and could often resonate and empathize with him as he felt like he never belonged or fit in anywhere. Ambrose, his father, was a very kind man who I kept rooting for as well in this book. However, there were some sad moments in this book and I can’t say that this was a light read at all.

I see there are many reviews that are much higher than mine for this book, so I say give this book a shot as I just may not have read this at the right time.

I would like to thank the publisher (Penguin Random House/Knopf), for sending me a physical copy of this book (uncorrected proof), in which I had the pleasure of reading.
Publication date: May 13, 2025]]> 3.94 2025
author: Garrett Carr
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/18
date added: 2025/04/18
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, books-i-own, from-publisher
review:
I’m not sure why, but this book took me a very long time to read. It was very “wordy��, and it read super slow. The story itself was decent enough, but it just wasn’t grabbing or keeping my attention the way I thought or hoped it would.

This story takes place in Ireland, 1973. A baby boy is found abandoned on the beach. The whole town is fascinated by this baby, and it is the fisherman Ambrose, who is able to take him home for the night and then proceeds to adopt him.

Ambrose and his wife, Christine, already have a son when they bring this baby home and adopt him. Their son, Declan, is not very happy with his new brother. The town is still fascinated by this boy who was found by the sea, and Declan is very jealous of him. They named the boy from the sea, Brendan- and Declan swears because they are not blood related, Brendan will never be his brother.

Through this story we learn about the lives of Ambrose, Christine, Declan, and Brendan (the Bonnar’s). We also learn a bit about Christine’s father, and her sister, Phyllis- who was absolutely dreadful. Phyllis was a very unlikable character for me. We learn a bit about the townspeople, and also their thoughts about Brendan, who is “the boy from the sea��.

I did enjoy reading about Brendan throughout this story, and could often resonate and empathize with him as he felt like he never belonged or fit in anywhere. Ambrose, his father, was a very kind man who I kept rooting for as well in this book. However, there were some sad moments in this book and I can’t say that this was a light read at all.

I see there are many reviews that are much higher than mine for this book, so I say give this book a shot as I just may not have read this at the right time.

I would like to thank the publisher (Penguin Random House/Knopf), for sending me a physical copy of this book (uncorrected proof), in which I had the pleasure of reading.
Publication date: May 13, 2025
]]> 220160447 Two sisters on trial for murder. They accuse each other. Who do you believe? From Steve Cavanagh, the “wickedly clever�� (The New York Times) master of twisty psychological thrillers.

��911 what’s your emergency?��

“My dad’s dead. My sister Sofia killed him. She’s still in the house. Please send help.��

“My dad’s dead. My sister Alexandra killed him. She’s still in the house. Please send help.��

One of them is a liar and a killer.

But which one?]]> 384 Steve Cavanagh 1668093456 Rachel 4
This story is about two sisters, Sofia and Alexandra Avellino, who are both accused of murdering their father. In fact, each sister is pointing the finger at the other one. Both Sofia and Alexandra were present at their father’s apartment the night he was murdered, and both sisters made a 911 call to the police. We, and the jury just have to decide who is innocent and who is guilty?

Enter Eddie Flynn as Sofia Avellino’s attorney. Through this we learn a little bit about Eddie, and also that of Sofia. Then we have Kate, who is Alexandra Avellino’s attorney. Once again, through this part we learn a little bit about Kate’s life and Alexandra’s. I never knew who was innocent or guilty throughout this story, as my finger pointed at each sister multiple times throughout (and I’m usually pretty good at guessing).

However, I will say that I did have a bit of an issue with Kate’s story towards the end (and maybe all of it if I’m being honest). It was just a bit implausible, and I doubt anything like that would really happen in real life. I also found it weird that while the two sisters were out on bond, no one was monitoring their whereabouts? ]]> 4.26 2020
author: Steve Cavanagh
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/06
date added: 2025/04/06
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Little did I know before reading this book that it is a republication (new pretty cover and everything). This is Book #5 in the Eddie Flynn series, and I believe that it can totally be read as a standalone, considering that I’ve never read any of the other Eddie Flynn books, and I was not lost or confused at all in this story. This was a very fast-paced story, with lots of twists. However, I did have a few qualms about it��

This story is about two sisters, Sofia and Alexandra Avellino, who are both accused of murdering their father. In fact, each sister is pointing the finger at the other one. Both Sofia and Alexandra were present at their father’s apartment the night he was murdered, and both sisters made a 911 call to the police. We, and the jury just have to decide who is innocent and who is guilty?

Enter Eddie Flynn as Sofia Avellino’s attorney. Through this we learn a little bit about Eddie, and also that of Sofia. Then we have Kate, who is Alexandra Avellino’s attorney. Once again, through this part we learn a little bit about Kate’s life and Alexandra’s. I never knew who was innocent or guilty throughout this story, as my finger pointed at each sister multiple times throughout (and I’m usually pretty good at guessing).

However, I will say that I did have a bit of an issue with Kate’s story towards the end (and maybe all of it if I’m being honest). It was just a bit implausible, and I doubt anything like that would really happen in real life. I also found it weird that while the two sisters were out on bond, no one was monitoring their whereabouts?
]]> 218129471 From national bestselling author Meg Mitchell Moore comes a sparkling new novel following a young woman entwined in the opulent lives of her neighbors on Block Island, set against a backdrop of scandal, secrets, and a not-so-subtle love triangle, perfect for readers of Pineapple Street and Sex and Vanity.

“An unputdownable modern-day take on The Great Gatsby. I gobbled it up.�� —J. Courtney Sullivan, New York Times bestselling author

It’s the beginning of the summer, and Nicola Carr has just arrived on Block Island, RI, eager for a fresh start and some R&R. But her plans for a tranquil summer are derailed as the extravagant parties from the grand home next door pique her curiosity. She soon discovers the home belongs to Juliana George, an enigmatic entrepreneur with a past shrouded in mystery.

Juliana George, CEO and founder of a hot fashion-tech company, is at the top of her game. She’s spending the summer on Block Island preparing for a major IPO. But she’s chasing her dreams in more ways than one. This summer she hopes to rekindle a flame with a man from her past—a man who has a surprising connection to her neighbor Nicola.

Taylor Buchanan, the wife of Nicola’s cousin, is second-in-command of a real estate empire. Her life is exactly the way she planned it: she has the wealth, the family, the prestige, and the power. And there’s nothing she’ll let get in her way of Having It All. But when everything suddenly verges on the edge of collapse, she has no choice but to take matters into her own hands.

As Nicola, Juliana, and Taylor’s summers unfold, the three women are set on a collision course that leads to inevitable self-discovery, unforgivable betrayal, an unavoidable love triangle—and, most unexpectedly, a dead body.

A sophisticated escapist novel filled with light humor and surprising observations, Mansion Beach explores the depth of human relationships, our cruelly classist society, and the price of secrets that refuse to stay buried.]]> 336 Meg Mitchell Moore 0063336960 Rachel 3
This story focuses on Nicola moving to Block Island for the summer. Nicola is able to stay for free, at her very wealthy cousin David’s cottage. We come to find out that David has money because he married into wealth, which is Taylor Buchanan. Next door to Nicola’s cottage, many parties are taking place at Juliana George’s home. Juliana is the founder of LookBook, a hot fashion-tech company.

Throughout the book, we learn about the current and backstories of everyone involved. I rolled my eyes more than I can count. Nicola is a 29 year old woman, who in my opinion was very immature. She moved to Block Island for a fresh start, but she sure had lots of growing up to do. No other character in this book was likable. In fact, they were all pompous and self-righteous, except that of Juliana. If it wasn’t for Juliana’s character, I probably would have DNF’ed this book. She was the only relatable character.

After finally finishing this story and reading the Acknowledgements, I read that this story was inspired by The Great Gatsby. I hate to admit this, but I’ve never read The Great Gatsby- and maybe if I had I would have enjoyed this story more. ]]> 3.83 2025
author: Meg Mitchell Moore
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/31
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, books-i-own, from-publisher, giveaways
review:
So this was another book that took me an exceptionally long time to read. The chapters were super long (a major pet peeve of mine), and there was only one character that I connected with (which wasn’t enough to save this book for me unfortunately). The storyline flipped back and forth a little bit between time periods, with no heading on the chapters informing you of the time period (of course, as you began reading you could figure it out). This book also seemed to be a bit repetitious, and I couldn’t wait for the big reveal to happen (which wasn’t a very big shock or reveal at all).

This story focuses on Nicola moving to Block Island for the summer. Nicola is able to stay for free, at her very wealthy cousin David’s cottage. We come to find out that David has money because he married into wealth, which is Taylor Buchanan. Next door to Nicola’s cottage, many parties are taking place at Juliana George’s home. Juliana is the founder of LookBook, a hot fashion-tech company.

Throughout the book, we learn about the current and backstories of everyone involved. I rolled my eyes more than I can count. Nicola is a 29 year old woman, who in my opinion was very immature. She moved to Block Island for a fresh start, but she sure had lots of growing up to do. No other character in this book was likable. In fact, they were all pompous and self-righteous, except that of Juliana. If it wasn’t for Juliana’s character, I probably would have DNF’ed this book. She was the only relatable character.

After finally finishing this story and reading the Acknowledgements, I read that this story was inspired by The Great Gatsby. I hate to admit this, but I’ve never read The Great Gatsby- and maybe if I had I would have enjoyed this story more.
]]> 221251764 An electrifying novel about the complicated friendship between two ambitious and talented female writers in 1960s Los Angeles and the ultimate artistic one writes a book based on the other's life�� from the author of Reese's Book Club Pick Before We Were Innocent.

After a steady descent from literary stardom, Lane Warren is back. She’s secured a new book deal based off the life of her sometimes friend and more often rival, notorious free spirit and muse, Gala Margolis. Lane’s only problem is that Gala has been missing for months…nobody can find her.

Ten years earlier, Gala was a charming socialite and Lane was a Hollywood outsider amidst the glittering 1960’s LA party scene. Though never best friends, Lane found Gala sharp and compelling. Gala liked that Lane took her seriously. They were both writers. They were drawn to each other.

That is until Gala’s star began to rise, and Lane grew more envious. Then Lane decided to do something that she wouldn’t ever be able to take back…changing the trajectory of both their lives.]]> 416 Ella Berman 0593639154 Rachel 4
This story takes place in Los Angeles (hence the title), and revolves around the lives of two women. Lane Warren is a well reserved, classy, up and coming writer. Gala Margolis is sloppy, parties hard, and doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her. Gala looks out for number one- and that is herself.

We get dual timelines in this story and that is, Then 1965/66, and Now 1975/76. So this story took place when women weren’t yet totally liberated or had the freedom to choose to live so freely. During these timelines we get a lot of Lane’s backstory, and in that I really resonated with her character. Lane was a woman who never felt worthy of love, admiration, or even friendship. Gala on the other hand, well let’s just say I couldn’t stand her character. In fact, I’m left confused as to why Lane wanted to be friends with her in the first place. For me, Gala was a very unlikable character, and I was super glad that she went missing in this book.

All in all, I did enjoy this book as I very much enjoy Ella Berman’s writing. She can write about complex, complicated friendships and relationships better than any other author out there. However, this book was very slow moving and did take a while to get into- but in the end it was worth it.
(3.5 stars- rounded up)

Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and the author for a DRC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading.
Publication date: August 5, 2005
Genre~ Women’s Fiction, General Fiction (adult)]]> 3.80 2025
author: Ella Berman
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/24
date added: 2025/03/24
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
This was a book that grew on me. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it (or the characters), until I continued reading. I had to know how each of the women’s stories ended regardless of how I felt about them. I also really liked the character of Charlie, who was a best friend to Lane.

This story takes place in Los Angeles (hence the title), and revolves around the lives of two women. Lane Warren is a well reserved, classy, up and coming writer. Gala Margolis is sloppy, parties hard, and doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her. Gala looks out for number one- and that is herself.

We get dual timelines in this story and that is, Then 1965/66, and Now 1975/76. So this story took place when women weren’t yet totally liberated or had the freedom to choose to live so freely. During these timelines we get a lot of Lane’s backstory, and in that I really resonated with her character. Lane was a woman who never felt worthy of love, admiration, or even friendship. Gala on the other hand, well let’s just say I couldn’t stand her character. In fact, I’m left confused as to why Lane wanted to be friends with her in the first place. For me, Gala was a very unlikable character, and I was super glad that she went missing in this book.

All in all, I did enjoy this book as I very much enjoy Ella Berman’s writing. She can write about complex, complicated friendships and relationships better than any other author out there. However, this book was very slow moving and did take a while to get into- but in the end it was worth it.
(3.5 stars- rounded up)

Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and the author for a DRC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading.
Publication date: August 5, 2005
Genre~ Women’s Fiction, General Fiction (adult)
]]> 214151202 “The farmer is dead. He is dead, and all anyone wants to know is who killed him.��

Beth and her gentle, kind husband Frank are happily married, but their relationship relies on the past staying buried. But when Beth’s brother-in-law shoots a dog going after their sheep, Beth doesn’t realize that the gunshot will alter the course of their lives. For the dog belonged to none other than Gabriel Wolfe, the man Beth loved as a teenager—the man who broke her heart years ago. Gabriel has returned to the village with his young son Leo, a boy who reminds Beth very much of her own son, who died in a tragic accident.

As Beth is pulled back into Gabriel’s life, tensions around the village rise and dangerous secrets and jealousies from the past resurface, this time with deadly consequences. Beth is forced to make a choice between the woman she once was, and the woman she has become.

A sweeping love story with the pace and twists of a thriller, Broken Country is a novel of simmering passion, impossible choices, and explosive consequences that toggles between the past and present to explore the far-reaching legacy of first love.]]> 320 Clare Leslie Hall 166807818X Rachel 5
This story takes place in the ‘Before�� of 1955, and also during the present time (of the story) of 1968. There is also a Trial taking place, but we really don’t get a full description of this trial until near the end of the story. Everything flows so seamlessly and flawlessly, that there were no questions left unanswered or any type of confusion. The chapters were short, which in turn made this mesmerizing story easy to keep wanting more. Each character was easy to resonate with, and you couldn’t help but to feel like you personally knew each and every one of them.

I won’t get too much into this story as you can easily read the synopsis, and besides I literally have no words. All I know is that the characters of Beth and her husband Frank (and that of Gabriel) will stay with me for a long while after this.
This book deserves All. The. Stars. ]]> 4.41 2025
author: Clare Leslie Hall
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/22
date added: 2025/03/10
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, favorites, from-publisher, netgalley, reese-witherspoon-book-club-pick
review:
This is what reading is all about. It’s been a very long time since a book has captured my attention the way that “Broken Country�� has. I was captivated by each page. In fact, I was sad to see this story end. This is by far my favorite book of the year, and I am recommending that everyone add it to your list now. I was filled with every raw emotion available. There was love, heartbreak, grief, anger, intensity, and sadness. In fact, have tissues handy because the ending will probably leave you needing some.

This story takes place in the ‘Before�� of 1955, and also during the present time (of the story) of 1968. There is also a Trial taking place, but we really don’t get a full description of this trial until near the end of the story. Everything flows so seamlessly and flawlessly, that there were no questions left unanswered or any type of confusion. The chapters were short, which in turn made this mesmerizing story easy to keep wanting more. Each character was easy to resonate with, and you couldn’t help but to feel like you personally knew each and every one of them.

I won’t get too much into this story as you can easily read the synopsis, and besides I literally have no words. All I know is that the characters of Beth and her husband Frank (and that of Gabriel) will stay with me for a long while after this.
This book deserves All. The. Stars.
]]> 217387839 From the author of the beloved novel Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder comes another quirky and irresistible new crime novel

Strange things are happening behind the bright pink facade of Bayside’s premier laundromat, Joyful Suds; home to Joy Moody and her twin daughters.

For much of their lives, Joy has been lying to Cassie and Andie. What started as a colorful tale to explain how the twins came to live with her grew over the years and was always something she meant to set straight. Joy really did think she had more time. Worse still, Joy is struggling to define the truth from the lies.

The girls have long believed they are vital to the future and must stay hidden to stay safe. Joy has told them that their impending 21st birthday is significant; they will step into their roles as daughters of the future revolution and life as they know it will change. Joy was right - everything will change, just not in the way the expected. On Andie and Cassie’s birthday, Joy Moody is found dead and her girls face a world they are not prepared for without their mother. Joy Moody is out of time�� in more ways than one.]]> 352 Kerryn Mayne 1250340500 Rachel 3 3.75 2024
author: Kerryn Mayne
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/05
date added: 2025/03/05
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I think I’m going to be an outlier with this book- but it just didn’t tickle my fancy
]]> 217388258 Was it...
Bitter, all-consuming jealousy?
Pathological sibling rivalry?
Pure insanity?

Whatever the cause—and everyone has a theory—it's the Crime of the Decade when glamorous Georgia Cartwright, who was adopted as a newborn, is accused of killing the biological daughter of her wealthy, Southern family.

Georgia is locked in a psychiatric institution where the most violent offenders are held while she awaits trial. The only words she whispers when her estranged twin sister Amanda visits are, “I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out of here.��

Amanda doesn't trust Georgia, but she can't abandon her in a place so eerie and menacing that it seems to exist in another dimension. Is Georgia the victim of a powerful family that's so depraved murder is the least of their crimes? Or is Amanda being led down a path of madness into the web of a master manipulator?

Nothing is as it seems in Sarah Pekkanen’s The Locked Ward, a shocking psychological thriller about the complex bonds of sisterhood—and what happens when they are stretched to the breaking point.

Some doors in the Locked Ward should never be opened.]]> 320 Sarah Pekkanen 1250349516 Rachel 3
Georgia Cartwright, a wealthy woman wakes up in a locked ward accused of bludgeoning her younger sister to death. She is refusing to speak to anyone, but only wants to see one person and that is Amanda (Mandy) Ravenel.

Imagine Mandy’s surprise when she receives a call from Georgia’s public defender to go and meet his client- considering they have never met before. Due to curiosity and some sort of connection, Mandy goes to visit Georgia and she learns some deep secrets that turn her life upside down.

In this book you will learn about sibling rivalry, twin connections, wealth, what it’s like to be locked up in a psych ward, family relationships (or lack thereof), and then we get a little bit of suspense/shock value�� I still feel like there were some missing details (which probably shouldn’t be that big of a deal), but it did bring my rating down a bit because of it.
All in all, it was still a decent read.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for a DRC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: August 5, 2025]]> 3.90 2025
author: Sarah Pekkanen
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/27
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, netgalley, from-publisher
review:
This was another book that I was eagerly anticipating. I loved the author’s previous book “House of Glass��, so I had high hopes for this book. While I did like this book, I didn’t love it unfortunately. I did love the short chapters, and the alternating POV’s between Georgia and Mandy. But the shock value just wasn’t there for me in this story, and I still feel like I have some questions/details that need to be addressed.

Georgia Cartwright, a wealthy woman wakes up in a locked ward accused of bludgeoning her younger sister to death. She is refusing to speak to anyone, but only wants to see one person and that is Amanda (Mandy) Ravenel.

Imagine Mandy’s surprise when she receives a call from Georgia’s public defender to go and meet his client- considering they have never met before. Due to curiosity and some sort of connection, Mandy goes to visit Georgia and she learns some deep secrets that turn her life upside down.

In this book you will learn about sibling rivalry, twin connections, wealth, what it’s like to be locked up in a psych ward, family relationships (or lack thereof), and then we get a little bit of suspense/shock value�� I still feel like there were some missing details (which probably shouldn’t be that big of a deal), but it did bring my rating down a bit because of it.
All in all, it was still a decent read.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for a DRC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: August 5, 2025
]]> 219278636 A luxurious yacht, a gorgeous crew with secrets and rivalries...and murder! I Did Warn Her is a cunning locked room mystery set on a billionaire’s yacht, by the author of last year’s sensation She Started It.

The Ophelia is your typical billionaire yacht: ridiculously luxurious, owned by a ruthless money man, and staffed by a crew whose only job is to indulge the guests�� every wish.

Model-gorgeous Sasha is a last-minute hire for a weeklong Atlantic crossing. She joins fellow stewardesses Jade, Imogen, Euphemia, and Lola. The Ophelia’s stewardesses are almost identical—blonde and model-gorgeous—and all were lured to the Ophelia by high wages and a chance to leave their problems behind when they set sail. But despite its sleek opulence, the Ophelia isn’t as heavenly as it seems. A stewardess on the previous charter died under mysterious circumstances, the guests�� expensive jewelry keeps disappearing, and the crew grows steadily more and more suspicious of one another.

Then the yacht’s owner brings aboard his best friend and two more women, also beautiful. Also hiding something.

When a crew member turns up dead after a night of partying, everyone on the yacht is a suspect. Who is the jewel thief? Who is the murderer? What will happen when the lights go out, and the crew and the guests are finally on equal footing?

Endlessly twisty and delightfully voyeuristic, I Did Warn Her is a whodunnit on the high seas, where the dark secrets of the ultra-wealthy have nowhere to hide.]]> 384 Sian Gilbert 0063436639 Rachel 3
To briefly sum this story up, we have Sasha who gets a dream job on the billionaire yacht ‘Ophelia��. Sasha thinks this job as a stewardess on the yacht will be an escape from her past. Little does Sasha know that she has walked into another nightmare.

Upon arriving on the ‘Ophelia��, Sasha meets all her coworkers/stewardesses, and amazingly they look exactly like she does. Sasha no longer stands out as being blond and beautiful, because the other stewardesses are blond and beautiful as well. They are exact replicas of each other. Sasha also finds out that these other women that she works with are not very friendly, and they are very cutthroat. How will Sasha survive this journey in the middle of the Atlantic ocean when women and items go disappearing almost daily?

If you like locked room mysteries, with lots of finger pointing ]]> 3.79
author: Sian Gilbert
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.79
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/14
date added: 2025/02/14
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
After reading the author’s debut novel “She Started It��, which I absolutely loved, I couldn’t wait to read this newest release. While I did enjoy this book, I think I’ve just gotten to a point where I’m a little tired of locked room (yacht) mysteries. This story had many POV’s to keep track of (which was fairly easy once the story took off), but then I felt it started to drag on through the middle. Now, I will admit that I didn’t read this book as fast as I usually do because of other life activities going on, so I’m not sure if that affected how I felt each time I picked the book back up��

To briefly sum this story up, we have Sasha who gets a dream job on the billionaire yacht ‘Ophelia��. Sasha thinks this job as a stewardess on the yacht will be an escape from her past. Little does Sasha know that she has walked into another nightmare.

Upon arriving on the ‘Ophelia��, Sasha meets all her coworkers/stewardesses, and amazingly they look exactly like she does. Sasha no longer stands out as being blond and beautiful, because the other stewardesses are blond and beautiful as well. They are exact replicas of each other. Sasha also finds out that these other women that she works with are not very friendly, and they are very cutthroat. How will Sasha survive this journey in the middle of the Atlantic ocean when women and items go disappearing almost daily?

If you like locked room mysteries, with lots of finger pointing
]]> 215177041 I have one thing to do before I die.
And time is running out.

I had it all: a fantastic husband, two great kids, an exciting career. And then, at the age of forty-three, I found out I would be dead before my next birthday.

My mother also died at forty-three. I was seventeen, and she warned me that women would flock to my suddenly single father like stray cats to an overturned milk truck. They did. And one absolutely evil woman practically destroyed his life, mine, and my sister’s.

I am not letting that happen to my family.

I have three months, and I plan to spend every waking minute searching for the perfect woman to take my place as Alex’s wife, and mother to Kevin and Katie.

You’re probably thinking, she’ll never do it. Did I mention that in high school I was voted “Most Likely to Kill Someone to Get What She Wants��?

From thriller writer Marshall Karp (cocreator with James Patterson of the #1 New York Times bestselling NYPD Red series), and rich with Karp’s deft array of three-dimensional characters and his signature biting humor, Don’t Tell Me How to Die has so many twists and turns, you’d swear he wrote it with a corkscrew.]]> 336 Marshall Karp Rachel 3 4.24 2025
author: Marshall Karp
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/30
date added: 2025/01/30
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Well there’s always that one person��
]]> 213618135 In the aftermath of a shocking breakup, a woman's desperate quest for answers ignites a psychological inferno that will consume her past, present, and future in this hair-raising debut from an exciting new voice in suspense . . .

She’s been ghosted. But she won’t be forgotten.

Claire is excited to drop off a surprise workday lunch for her fiancé, Noah. It’s their anniversary, after all. But when the receptionist tells her that no one with Noah's name works there, Claire thinks there must be a mistake.

Noah isn't picking up her calls. Her texts go unanswered. It turns out Noah has a different life . . . one with a beautiful girlfriend, a beautiful house. Claire was never really in the picture.

Desperate to unpack all of Noah’s lies, Claire plunges into a nightmarish journey of obsession that submerges her deeper into the murky waters of her own past—a past dominated by a manipulative mother who shattered her sense of self.

Will Claire break free from the ghosts that haunt her? Or will they become more costly than any of Noah's lies?]]> 288 Callie Kazumi 0593871634 Rachel 5 3.61 2025
author: Callie Kazumi
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/23
date added: 2025/01/23
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Now this is how you write a debut novel!!
]]> 213570821 From the bestselling author of In My Dreams I Hold a Knife and Midnight is the Darkest Hour comes a chilling, compulsive story of five amateur sleuths, whose hunt for an elusive killer catapults them into danger as the world watches.

It's the most famous crime in modern history. But only she knows the true story.

After the unexpected death of her father, college student Jane Sharp longs for a distraction from her grief. She becomes obsessed with true crime, befriending armchair detectives who teach her how to hunt killers from afar. In this morbid internet underground, Jane finds friendship, purpose, and even glory...

So when news of the shocking deaths of three college girls in Delphine, Idaho takes the world by storm, and sleuths everywhere race to solve the crimes, Jane and her friends are determined to beat them. But the case turns out to be stranger than anyone expected. Details don't add up, the police are cagey, and there seems to be more media hype and internet theorizing than actual evidence. When Jane and her sleuths take a step closer, they find that every answer only begs more questions. Something's not adding up, and they begin to suspect their killer may be smarter and more prolific than any they've faced before. Placing themselves in the center of the story starts to feel more and more like walking into a trap...

Told one year after the astounding events that concluded the case and left the world reeling, when Jane has finally decided to break her silence about what really happened, she tells the true story of the Delphine Massacres. And what she has to confess will shock even the most seasoned true crime fans...


]]> 480 Ashley Winstead 1728270006 Rachel 2 I will say that I wanted to read this book as I loved Winstead’s, “In My Dreams I Hold a Knife��- in fact I loved that book so much, that I keep looking for the same “high�� I got with that book with every other Ashley Winstead book. Unfortunately, it just hasn’t happened. Each book I’ve read of hers after that one has been less and less appealing for me, with this one being the worst. With that being said- I think it’s time that I part ways with this author (it’s not you Ashley, it’s me), as we are just not a good fit anymore. :(

In this story, we have Janeway Sharp who unexpectedly loses her father. With this devastating news, she leaves college and moves back home with her mother. Jane is grieving (and rightfully so), and so she joins a true-crime online forum to help solve murders and cold cases. On this online forum, Jane makes many new friends who become like family to her. Solving crimes may just be what Jane needs to distract her from her own pain and grief.

This book is a work of fiction, which reads kind of like nonfiction (does that make sense?). In the very beginning of the book there is an Author’s Note, in which she states that she drew her inspiration for the stories from real cases, such as the University of Idaho (which played a major role in this book). I felt that were too many characters to keep track of, or maybe I just didn’t want to. I also felt that this book was geared towards a younger audience. I wish this book would have worked better for me, but it ended up not being my cup of tea��

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for a DRC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: March 25, 2025
Genre~ General Fiction (adult), Mystery & Thrillers, Women’s Fiction]]> 3.69 2025
author: Ashley Winstead
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/01/13
date added: 2025/01/13
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I think this was the longest book that I’ve ever read�� I seriously didn’t think that it would ever end. This book literally buried me in guilt. Guilt that I should have put this in the DNF pile several days ago.
I will say that I wanted to read this book as I loved Winstead’s, “In My Dreams I Hold a Knife��- in fact I loved that book so much, that I keep looking for the same “high�� I got with that book with every other Ashley Winstead book. Unfortunately, it just hasn’t happened. Each book I’ve read of hers after that one has been less and less appealing for me, with this one being the worst. With that being said- I think it’s time that I part ways with this author (it’s not you Ashley, it’s me), as we are just not a good fit anymore. :(

In this story, we have Janeway Sharp who unexpectedly loses her father. With this devastating news, she leaves college and moves back home with her mother. Jane is grieving (and rightfully so), and so she joins a true-crime online forum to help solve murders and cold cases. On this online forum, Jane makes many new friends who become like family to her. Solving crimes may just be what Jane needs to distract her from her own pain and grief.

This book is a work of fiction, which reads kind of like nonfiction (does that make sense?). In the very beginning of the book there is an Author’s Note, in which she states that she drew her inspiration for the stories from real cases, such as the University of Idaho (which played a major role in this book). I felt that were too many characters to keep track of, or maybe I just didn’t want to. I also felt that this book was geared towards a younger audience. I wish this book would have worked better for me, but it ended up not being my cup of tea��

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for a DRC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: March 25, 2025
Genre~ General Fiction (adult), Mystery & Thrillers, Women’s Fiction
]]> 215570667
Years later Tom makes a decision that ripples through their families' lives in ways he could not have foreseen. As the consequences of that fateful choice unfold, two women's paths become irrevocably intertwined. But when old love clashes with new, who will be left standing? And what happens when your secrets come back to haunt you?]]> 336 Loretta Rothschild 1250381827 Rachel 5 4.10 2025
author: Loretta Rothschild
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/07
date added: 2025/01/07
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley, favorites
review:
Wow! This is a phenomenal debut! I almost passed this book up, but the cover made me do a double take
]]> 220160814 Three women are connected by one man in this kaleidoscopic thriller.

Restauranteur Paddy Swann was the life of the party until the day a man pushed him in the path of an oncoming train, leaving his twenty-something daughter Ash and wife Nina devastated. Shortly after Paddy’s funeral, the two women receive a surprise in the mail: a note and package from Nick Ratcliffe, an old friend of Paddy’s, and a nondescript lighter that once belonged to him decades ago. This unexpected gift draws Nick and Nina closer together—much to Ash’s dismay.

Martha is a small-town florist with dreams of expansion. She lives with her second husband Al, her baby, and two sons from her prior marriage. But they never seem to have any money, and with his constant traveling for work, she feels like a single parent—especially when an emergency makes her realize something needs to change.

But Nick and Al may not be who they say they are, leading these three women on a shocking collision course, wishing they had heeded a warning: Don’t let him in.]]> 368 Lisa Jewell 1668033879 Rachel 5
I’m not going to go into too much on what this book is about, as I feel I would give the whole book away. This is a book that needs to be read and enjoyed page by page (although some things will make you pretty angry). I feel you will get a clear look on how single women with not much family, or perhaps women who are vulnerable or dealing with a tragedy or grief can so easily get taken advantage of by men like Al (or whatever his name was). Men like Al find women who are easy prey or perhaps a meal ticket for their own sick world in which they live.

I loved the short chapters in this book (my favorite). And as I mentioned above, Lisa Jewell did her homework on this one about narcissistic/toxic men- and she is spot on! I was teetering between four and five stars with this one, but I decided to bump it up because she nailed it so perfectly!! I also enjoyed the Epilogue at the end. :)

If you are a fan of Lisa Jewell, and love fast-paced books- then I definitely recommend reading this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books (Simon & Schuster), and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: June 24, 2025]]> 4.00 2025
author: Lisa Jewell
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/04
date added: 2025/01/04
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Will 2025 be the year for great books? It’s certainly looking that way after reading this gem from Lisa Jewell. This book was another jaw-dropping, page turner that delivered on every aspect for me. Let’s just say that Jewell certainly did her homework for this book.

I’m not going to go into too much on what this book is about, as I feel I would give the whole book away. This is a book that needs to be read and enjoyed page by page (although some things will make you pretty angry). I feel you will get a clear look on how single women with not much family, or perhaps women who are vulnerable or dealing with a tragedy or grief can so easily get taken advantage of by men like Al (or whatever his name was). Men like Al find women who are easy prey or perhaps a meal ticket for their own sick world in which they live.

I loved the short chapters in this book (my favorite). And as I mentioned above, Lisa Jewell did her homework on this one about narcissistic/toxic men- and she is spot on! I was teetering between four and five stars with this one, but I decided to bump it up because she nailed it so perfectly!! I also enjoyed the Epilogue at the end. :)

If you are a fan of Lisa Jewell, and love fast-paced books- then I definitely recommend reading this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books (Simon & Schuster), and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: June 24, 2025
]]> 217506549 368 Julie Clark 1464221286 Rachel 4 4.25 2025
author: Julie Clark
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/01
date added: 2025/01/01
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
So I’ve come to the conclusion that Julie Clark cannot write a bad book (please don’t prove me wrong after this book-Lol
]]> 220160936 An enchanting debut novel exploring second chances and blossoming romance in a charming port town in Maine, perfect for fans of J. Courtney Sullivan’s The Cliffs and Catherine Newman’s Sandwich.

Just about everything has gone wrong for Gwen Gilmore over the past year. She’s lost her mother, her teaching job, and been dumped by her—albeit not that great—long-term boyfriend. Adrift and out of options, she packs her life into her barely functioning car and makes the lonely drive north, to the only place she can think of her family’s aging cottage on the Maine coast, Periwinkle, which she’s recently inherited.

The cottage and Port Anna, the foggy Maine town of Gwen’s childhood, are unchanged in many ways. For Gwen, they are full of the ghosts of her past—boyfriends, forgotten creative dreams, and painful memories of a sister lost too young. Periwinkle is also home to some more literal The Misses, friendly spirits who have long watched over the cottage, but who now seem strangely unsettled, slamming doors and moving furniture in the night. And behind its charming façade, Port Anna has not escaped the realities of modern life. Family homes are being razed to make space for garish condos, the cottage, coveted by a relentless local realtor, is about to be condemned, and the unsolved disappearance of a teenage girl has set the town on edge. On the face of it, it’s an odd place to try to make a new start.

But there are glimmers of hope everywhere, if only Gwen can open herself up to possibility. Sparks fly with Leandro, an Argentinian artist, as aloof and witty as he is wildly attractive. Old friends and former flames come out of the woodwork, bringing with them new opportunities and chances to laugh again. Even in the face of potential happiness, though, it seems some secrets refuse to stay buried. As the summer crowds return to the city and the locals hunker down for another harsh Maine winter, Gwen will be forced to make choices that will change her life forever.]]> 352 Libby Buck 1668060078 Rachel 3
To briefly sum this story up, Gwen goes back to her home in Maine (which is called the Periwinkle), after being away for twenty years. Gwen reconnects with old friends, looks for new employment, finds new love, deals with old grief from her past, and even deals with ghosts living in her home ]]> 4.01 2025
author: Libby Buck
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/28
date added: 2024/12/29
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
When I was invited to read this book, I could not pass it up due to its stunning, beautiful cover. I also loved the synopsis and thought that I would resonate with our main character, Gwen Gilmore. However. I found that looks can be deceiving and I should have read the synopsis more carefully because there was just WAY too much going on in this story. In fact, I felt that it was a bit all over the place and I unfortunately lost interest very early on.

To briefly sum this story up, Gwen goes back to her home in Maine (which is called the Periwinkle), after being away for twenty years. Gwen reconnects with old friends, looks for new employment, finds new love, deals with old grief from her past, and even deals with ghosts living in her home
]]> 217388179 Never speak of that summer.

On a beautiful summer’s night twenty years ago, troubled seventeen-year-old Tamara Drayton was found floating face-down in the pool of her family’s idyllic mansion in the south of France, leaving her twin brother, golden-boy Blake, to pick up the pieces of their shattered family.

Also left behind was their sister Nina who, at six years old, became the youngest person ever to testify in a French murder trial. Because she’s the only one who saw what happened—who watched as her babysitter, Josie Jackson, pushed Tamara under the water, and held her there until she stopped breathing.

Didn’t she? Twenty years later, Nina's memories have faded, leaving her with no idea of what really transpired that night. When a new true crime documentary about her sister’s murder is announced, Nina thinks this might be her chance to finally find out.

But the truth always comes at a cost. Who will pay the price?

Set over two unforgettable summers two decades apart, High Season is a dark, tense exploration of the nature of memory, the enduring power of truth, and all the gray areas in between.]]> 384 Katie Bishop 1250283930 Rachel 4
This story starts off with Nina Drayton, who goes back to the south of France to her childhood home where her older sister Tamara was killed. Nina was only five years old at the time of the murder, and she decides to go back home to relive that day to see if her memories were right. Nina has struggled her whole life after her sister’s death, relied on several different medications to get through a day- never quite sure of herself. Nina now works as a child psychologist, and her mother and brother are not very happy about her new choice in life.

Josie Jackson is the girl who spent ten years in prison for the death of Nina’s sister, Tamara Drayton. Since being released from prison she has never found any stability in her life, and cannot go back to her hometown since she is shunned there. But was Josie really guilty of Tamara’s murder?

It isn’t until Imogen Faye, a true crime TikTokker reopens the case of Tamara Drayton that new evidence comes to light.
This book goes back and forth between 2004 and 2024, and you get a clear picture of all the characters lives. I was especially fond of Nina’s character, and I would have liked to have read more about her in this book.

This book was divided into Four Parts, and I will say that I really loved the first two parts- and then parts Three and Four seemed to drag on. I do feel that’s when the book started to get a bit too lengthy, and fill with unnecessary drama and details. However, I did mostly enjoy this book and I do plan on reading more from this author in the future.
(3.5 stars)

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: August 12, 2025
Genre~ General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers, New Adult]]> 4.09 2025
author: Katie Bishop
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/13
date added: 2024/12/13
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
This was a book that I was hesitant to read, because going by the synopsis it seems this book has been done many times before. However, this book was different and so much better than the others before it. The writing was stellar, I loved the characters current development and backstories, and the settings were described perfectly. But�� the one problem I did end up having with this book was that it ended up being too lengthy.

This story starts off with Nina Drayton, who goes back to the south of France to her childhood home where her older sister Tamara was killed. Nina was only five years old at the time of the murder, and she decides to go back home to relive that day to see if her memories were right. Nina has struggled her whole life after her sister’s death, relied on several different medications to get through a day- never quite sure of herself. Nina now works as a child psychologist, and her mother and brother are not very happy about her new choice in life.

Josie Jackson is the girl who spent ten years in prison for the death of Nina’s sister, Tamara Drayton. Since being released from prison she has never found any stability in her life, and cannot go back to her hometown since she is shunned there. But was Josie really guilty of Tamara’s murder?

It isn’t until Imogen Faye, a true crime TikTokker reopens the case of Tamara Drayton that new evidence comes to light.
This book goes back and forth between 2004 and 2024, and you get a clear picture of all the characters lives. I was especially fond of Nina’s character, and I would have liked to have read more about her in this book.

This book was divided into Four Parts, and I will say that I really loved the first two parts- and then parts Three and Four seemed to drag on. I do feel that’s when the book started to get a bit too lengthy, and fill with unnecessary drama and details. However, I did mostly enjoy this book and I do plan on reading more from this author in the future.
(3.5 stars)

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: August 12, 2025
Genre~ General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers, New Adult
]]> 195790577 From the New York Times bestselling author of the Reese's Book Club Pick The Other Woman and The Guilt Trip comes an electrifying new novel.

Now: Nicole Forbes lives a quiet life in a small seaside Californian town with her husband and daughter. She is not expecting a writer to knock on her door asking for her personal insight into the downfall of the biggest British band of the 1980s—unveiling the threads of a life she put behind her years ago. The same day, her daughter goes missing and the school claims her aunt picked her up . . . but she doesn’t have an aunt. Convinced of a link between the two, Nicole is forced to revisit long-abandoned memories from her past to protect everything she now holds dear.

1986: Sixteen-year-old Cassie is obsessed with the hottest band in London, Secret Oktober. Harboring an intense crush on the leading man, Ben Edwards, she will do anything she can to capture his attention among the throngs of groupies at the band’s scandalous backstage parties. But when Ben discovers her older sister Nicole singing at a local bar one night, he can’t help but feel drawn to her, setting in motion a collision course that could tear their family apart.

Infused with the sounds of the 80s, this thrilling new novel from the inimitable Sandie Jones will captivate her readers, as she explores what the frenzy of fandom can lead to in this shocking blockbuster.]]> 320 Sandie Jones 125091003X Rachel 2
This story is mainly about Nicole, who is living a new life in California. We have flashbacks from Nicole’s life in London, 1986 to now in California, 2010. Nicole has a younger sister Cassie, who is a complete whack-job. Cassie is deplorable and delusional, and chases a rock band around town called “Secret Oktober��. How does this famous band change the course of their lives forever? Especially Nicole’s?
Well, if you would like a bunch of eye-rolling moments, then I suggest you read this book and find out!

As I mentioned above, this my least favorite by this author. In fact, I feel like this was written by a totally different author (who kidnapped Sandie Jones? And can we please have her back?!). Maybe others will enjoy this more than I did if you enjoy reading about young groupies, and twists that really don’t go anywhere��

I would still like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for an ARC of this book.
Publication date is: March 25, 2025
Genre~ Mystery & Thrillers]]> 3.30 2024
author: Sandie Jones
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.30
book published: 2024
rating: 2
read at: 2024/11/30
date added: 2024/11/30
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
This was my fourth read by Sandie Jones, and my least favorite. In fact, I couldn’t wait for this book to finally be over. If I wasn’t reading and reviewing this book for NetGalley, I probably would have put this book in the DNF pile, as it was a complete waste of my time. All the characters were unlikable (and not in a good way), there was absolutely zero substance to this story, and every “twist and turn�� was unnecessary and totally not shocking.

This story is mainly about Nicole, who is living a new life in California. We have flashbacks from Nicole’s life in London, 1986 to now in California, 2010. Nicole has a younger sister Cassie, who is a complete whack-job. Cassie is deplorable and delusional, and chases a rock band around town called “Secret Oktober��. How does this famous band change the course of their lives forever? Especially Nicole’s?
Well, if you would like a bunch of eye-rolling moments, then I suggest you read this book and find out!

As I mentioned above, this my least favorite by this author. In fact, I feel like this was written by a totally different author (who kidnapped Sandie Jones? And can we please have her back?!). Maybe others will enjoy this more than I did if you enjoy reading about young groupies, and twists that really don’t go anywhere��

I would still like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for an ARC of this book.
Publication date is: March 25, 2025
Genre~ Mystery & Thrillers
]]> 210137119 Moving Forward When You’re Skeptical of Others, Afraid of What God Will Allow, and Doubtful of Your Own Discernment

Trust is the oxygen of all human relationships. But it's also what trips you up after you've been burned. Maybe a friend constantly lets you down. A leader or organization you respect turns out to be different than they portray themselves to be. A spouse cheats on you. A family member betrays you. You're exhausted by other people's choices and starting to question your own discernment. And you're wondering,��If God let this happen, can he even be trusted?��

How can you live well and step into the future when you keep stumbling over trust issues? Lysa TerKeurst says it's not simply about finding better people to walk with. It's about developing the stability you long for within yourself and with God, so you don't become cynical and carry a broken belief system into every new relationship.

������I Want to Trust You, but I Don't Bible Study, Lysa digs into the Scriptures and helps you apply how to identify which of the eleven relational red flags are stirring up distrust, so you can pinpoint why you're feeling uneasy;stop having more faith in your fears coming true than God coming through for you by asking crucial "what if" questions to better process your doubts;recognize when a fractured relationship can be repaired by considering a reasonable list of characteristics necessary for rebuilding trust; and understand the physical, emotional, and neurological impact of the betrayals you've experienced and start healing from the inside out.]]> 208 Lysa TerKeurst 0310145708 Rachel 5
Of course this book is about trusting again, and using our own discernment and wisdom. Each chapter goes into great detail about regaining trust in others and what we should be watching for to keep ourselves safe. I loved every chapter in this book, but Chapter Three on identifying red flags ]]> 4.35
author: Lysa TerKeurst
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.35
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/06
date added: 2024/11/06
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley, nonfiction, self-help
review:
This is yet another book that I didn’t know I needed (wait, yes I did), by Lysa TerKeurst. This woman gets it. She doesn’t deny or sugarcoat her pain and struggles, which makes her stories and books so relatable. I often feel that I am alone in my struggles, feelings, and thoughts and then along comes a book like this to let me know there are others feeling just like me. Also, after each chapter in this book there was a reflection and prayer given- which was so nice because it really made you sit and think about what you just read.

Of course this book is about trusting again, and using our own discernment and wisdom. Each chapter goes into great detail about regaining trust in others and what we should be watching for to keep ourselves safe. I loved every chapter in this book, but Chapter Three on identifying red flags
]]> 211004069 In Melissa Larsen's The Lost House comes the mesmerizing story of a young woman with a haunting past who returns to her ancestral home in Iceland to investigate a gruesome murder in her family.

Forty years ago, a young woman and her infant daughter were found buried in the cold Icelandic snow, lying together as peacefully as though sleeping. Except the mother’s throat had been slashed and the infant drowned. The case was never solved. There were no arrests, no conviction. Just a suspicion turned into a the husband did it. When he took his son and fled halfway across the world to California, it was proof enough of his guilt.

Now, nearly half a century later and a year after his death, his granddaughter, Agnes, is ready to clear her grandfather’s name once and for all. Still recovering from his death and a devastating injury, Agnes wants nothing more than an excuse to escape the shambles of her once-stable life—which is why she so readily accepts true crime expert Nora Carver’s invitation to be interviewed for her popular podcast. Agnes packs a bag and hops on a last-minute flight to the remote town of Bifröst, Iceland, where Nora is staying, where Agnes’s father grew up, and where, supposedly, her grandfather slaughtered his wife and infant daughter.

Is it merely coincidence that a local girl goes missing the very same weekend Agnes arrives? Suddenly, Agnes and Nora’s investigation is turned upside down, and everyone in the small Icelandic town is once again a suspect. Seeking to unearth old and new truths alike, Agnes finds herself drawn into a web of secrets that threaten the redemption she is hell-bent on delivering, and even her life—discovering how far a person will go to protect their family, their safety, and their secrets.

Set against an unforgiving Icelandic winter landscape, The Lost House is a chilling and razor-sharp thriller packed with jaw-dropping twists that will leave you breathless.]]> 352 Melissa Larsen 1250332877 Rachel 4
This story is about Agnes Glin, who goes on a trip to Iceland alone to take part in a podcast. The podcast is run by Nora Carver, and Nora is digging up a case from 40 years ago which involves the murders of Agnes’s late grandmother and aunt. Agnes’s grandfather, Einar Palsson, is suspected of those murders, and Agnes would like to hopefully prove his innocence.

As soon as Agnes arrives in Iceland, another young girl goes missing. So along with trying to interview people from her grandparents past, Agnes and Nora are also on a hunt for the missing girl. In search of the missing girl and through Agnes’s travels, she braves through the cold temperatures and the blizzard-like snow taking place. Agnes deals with the flashbacks of her leg injury, and her current pain and loss that she is going through. The grief, trauma, and suspense kept me turning these pages faster and faster.

This book was a pleasant surprise, and I definitely recommend reading this book. I also found a new author to read, because I enjoyed her writing very much!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure to read. Publication date: January 14, 2025.]]> 3.50 2025
author: Melissa Larsen
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/21
date added: 2024/10/21
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
This chilling book was exactly what I have been looking for. If only the weather where I live was colder (and snowing), this book would have been perfection (and trust me, it was pretty close to it). This book was atmospheric, as it takes place in Bifrost, Iceland. Not only could I picture the snow falling, the ice covered roads, the knee-deep walkways filled with snow, but I could also feel the cold temperatures going through my skin- making me need just one more blanket to keep warm. ☕️ The suspense also sent chills down my spine, and I was so sorry when this book ended. I also personally resonated with our main character of Agnes, as she suffered a leg injury. The healing journey of a shattered kneecap/ leg injury is a painful one, and there is the before version of yourself and the after version of yourself��

This story is about Agnes Glin, who goes on a trip to Iceland alone to take part in a podcast. The podcast is run by Nora Carver, and Nora is digging up a case from 40 years ago which involves the murders of Agnes’s late grandmother and aunt. Agnes’s grandfather, Einar Palsson, is suspected of those murders, and Agnes would like to hopefully prove his innocence.

As soon as Agnes arrives in Iceland, another young girl goes missing. So along with trying to interview people from her grandparents past, Agnes and Nora are also on a hunt for the missing girl. In search of the missing girl and through Agnes’s travels, she braves through the cold temperatures and the blizzard-like snow taking place. Agnes deals with the flashbacks of her leg injury, and her current pain and loss that she is going through. The grief, trauma, and suspense kept me turning these pages faster and faster.

This book was a pleasant surprise, and I definitely recommend reading this book. I also found a new author to read, because I enjoyed her writing very much!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure to read. Publication date: January 14, 2025.
]]> 211399773 A vacation in the Hamptons goes terribly wrong for three friends with a complicated history.

It was meant to be a harmless prank.

Growing up, May Hanover was a good girl, always. Well-behaved, top of her class, a compulsive rule-follower. Raised by a first-generation Chinese single mother with high expectations, May didn’t have room to slip up, let alone fail. Her friends didn’t call her the Little Sheriff for nothing.

But even good girls have secrets. And regrets. When it comes to her friendship with Lauren and Kelsey, she's had her fair share of both. Their bond—forged when May was just twelve years old—has withstood a tragic accident, individual scandals, heartbreak and loss. Now the three friends have reunited for the first time in years for a few days of sun and fun in the Hamptons. But a chance encounter with a pair of strangers leads to a drunken prank that goes horribly awry.��

When she finds herself at the center of an urgent police investigation, May begins to wonder whether Lauren and Kelsey are keeping secrets from her, testing the limits of her loyalty to lifelong friends.

What had they gone and done?

The Note is a page-turner of the highest order��from one of our greatest contemporary suspense writers.]]> 287 Alafair Burke 0593537084 Rachel 3
In this story we have three friends- May, Lauren, and Kelsey. Their friendship is a bit toxic, and they have decided to spend a weekend together in the Hampton’s after several years apart. The three women go out to dinner and while waiting for a parking spot, a young couple steals their spot that they were waiting for. A note is then left which is supposed to be a harmless prank. How will this innocent note tie all these women together into a crime they were not involved in? And why do all three girls have things from their pasts that have ruined their reputations?

This book deals with instances from the pandemic, race, gender, rich white men having power, and even some courtroom drama. I just felt like I’ve read too many of these books within the past few years, and I’ve definitely had my fill. However, I’m sure many Alafair Burke fans will still love this book.
2.5 stars- rounded up.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, & Anchor, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: January 7, 2025]]> 3.35 2025
author: Alafair Burke
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.35
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/15
date added: 2024/10/15
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I know that Alafair Burke is a much loved author amongst my ŷ������ friends, therefore I was very excited to receive an ARC of this book. This is my first read by Alafair Burke, and I hate to say that I wasn’t that impressed with this book. I’m sure there are other books of hers that I would like more, but this one just didn’t work for me. It was a short read, and it took me nearly a week to read this (not a good sign). I did not like one character (which usually isn’t a dealbreaker for me), but unlikable characters and a slow moving storyline just made it worse.

In this story we have three friends- May, Lauren, and Kelsey. Their friendship is a bit toxic, and they have decided to spend a weekend together in the Hampton’s after several years apart. The three women go out to dinner and while waiting for a parking spot, a young couple steals their spot that they were waiting for. A note is then left which is supposed to be a harmless prank. How will this innocent note tie all these women together into a crime they were not involved in? And why do all three girls have things from their pasts that have ruined their reputations?

This book deals with instances from the pandemic, race, gender, rich white men having power, and even some courtroom drama. I just felt like I’ve read too many of these books within the past few years, and I’ve definitely had my fill. However, I’m sure many Alafair Burke fans will still love this book.
2.5 stars- rounded up.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, & Anchor, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: January 7, 2025
]]> 214269008 The long-awaited follow-up to the Reese’s Book Club��pick and New York Times bestselling global phenomenon The Light We Lost: a thrilling love story about the roles fate and choice play in shaping a life

It’s been ten years. In case you’re out there somewhere—in case you’re listening, I’m here. And I have so much to tell you.

It’s been nearly ten years since Gabe’s been gone when Lucy finds a tiny piece of paper in a box of his old photos. An address in Rome. Why did Gabe keep it, and what was he doing in Italy? Lucy buys a last-minute ticket. Impulsive, but Gabe always brought that out in her.

Lucy’s journey to uncover Gabe’s secret leads her to Dr. Dax Amstrong, a New Yorker in Italy working with an NGO. His broad shoulders and sad, intense eyes draw Lucy in. His touch reaches her in a forgotten place—one that no one has neared since Gabe.

But her old life awaits, along with an earth-shattering decision—whether she and Darren should tell their son Samuel the truth about his real father. How can Lucy move forward while she’s rooted in regret? Fate broke her heart in the past. Can finding new love set her free?]]> 352 Jill Santopolo 0593419200 Rachel 4 3.89 2025
author: Jill Santopolo
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/02
date added: 2024/10/02
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Imagine my excitement and surprise when I saw this was the sequel to “The Light We Lost�� by Jill Santopolo (which if you haven’t read that book, please do yourself a favor and have tissues ready
]]> 61980307 The saying goes that "God only gives you what you can handle." Well God didn't grow up in my atheist, Wiccan, fame-laden, oversexed, teetotalling, drug-free, cloistered, chaotic, non-communicative, workaholic, feral-feeling house.'

For Moon Unit, daughter of musician Frank Zappa and his 'manager', Gail, processing a life so unique, so punctuated by the whims of creative urges, the tastes of popular culture and the calculus of celebrity, has at times been eviscerating. But it is her deep sense of humour and unshakeable humility that keeps her - and this memoir - pinned to the ground.

A child-star at age 14 after her accidental international hit single (recorded with her father), 'Valley Girl', turned her into a reluctant celebrity, Moon Unit Zappa's life has been utterly extraordinary from her birth in 1967 into a family that was already blessed/cursed as music royalty thanks to the acknowledged genius of Frank. But what are the consequences of growing up in a family who spend most of their time naked arguing about sexual/extra-marital liaisons and practising white magic in a free-for-all state of nonconformist, virtuoso abandon?

Earth to Moon is a reckoning with self-esteem, the ghosts of the past and a mother and a father who, in the process of leaving their mark upon on the world, scarred their first daughter on home soil. Brutally self-deprecating and funny as hell, it belies a rose-tinted perspective on the 70s and 80s west coast American scene, from within the belly of the beast of the rock and roll world.]]> 351 Moon Unit Zappa 0063113341 Rachel 4
Growing up I had always heard of Frank Zappa and knew who he was, but the only song I know by him is that of the one he created with his daughter, Moon Unit for “Valley Girl��. I think everybody loved that song! “Valley girl, she’s a valley girl. Okay, fine. For sure, for sure. She’s a Valley girl, and there is no cure��. ]]> 4.16 2024
author: Moon Unit Zappa
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/09
date added: 2024/09/09
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, memoir, netgalley
review:
After reading an article on People magazine’s website about this book coming out, and some of what Moon Unit Zappa’s life has been about, I immediately knew I wanted to read this memoir. I was right in my feelings, because this memoir did not disappoint.

Growing up I had always heard of Frank Zappa and knew who he was, but the only song I know by him is that of the one he created with his daughter, Moon Unit for “Valley Girl��. I think everybody loved that song! “Valley girl, she’s a valley girl. Okay, fine. For sure, for sure. She’s a Valley girl, and there is no cure��.
]]> 203608552 A woman must learn to take life by the throat after a night out leads to irrevocable changes in this juicy, thrilling novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Such Sharp Teeth and Black Sheep.

Sloane Parker is dreading her birthday. She doesn’t need a reminder she’s getting older, or that she’s feeling indifferent about her own life.

Her husband surprises her with a birthday weekend getaway—not with him, but with Sloane’s longtime best friend, troublemaker extraordinaire Naomi.

Sloane anticipates a weekend of wine tastings and cozy robes and strategic avoidance of issues she’d rather not confront, like her husband’s repeated infidelity. But when they arrive at their rental cottage, it becomes clear Naomi has something else in mind. She wants Sloane to stop letting things happen to her, for Sloane to really live. So Naomi orchestrates a wild night out with a group of mysterious strangers, only for it to take a horrifying turn that changes Sloane’s and Naomi’s lives literally forever.

The friends are forced to come to terms with some pretty eternal consequences in this bloody, seductive novel about how it’s never too late to find satisfaction, even though it might taste different than expected.]]> 304 Rachel Harrison 0593642546 Rachel 4 3.49 2024
author: Rachel Harrison
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.49
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/24
date added: 2024/08/24
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I found a book that’s just in time for the Fall/Halloween season! This book delivered on every aspect- it was fun, fast-paced, and it was a bit creepy
]]> 207294976 He was the troubled face of rock ‘n�� roll…until he suddenly disappeared without a trace.

Jane Pyre was once half of the famous rock ‘n�� roll duo, the Lightning Bottles. Years later, she’s perhaps the most hated—and least understood—woman in music. She was never as popular with fans as her bandmate (and soulmate), Elijah Hart—even if Jane was the one who wrote the songs that catapulted the Lightning Bottles to instant, dizzying fame, first in the Seattle grunge scene, then around the world.

But ever since Elijah disappeared five years earlier and the band’s meteoric rise to fame came crashing down, the public hatred of Jane has taken on new levels, and all she wants to do is retreat. What she doesn’t anticipate is the bombshell that awaits her at her new home in the German countryside: the sullen teenaged girl next door—a Lightning Bottles superfan—who claims to have proof that not only is Elijah alive, he’s also been leaving secret messages for Jane. And they need to find him right away.

A cross-continent road trip about two misunderstood outsiders brought together by their shared love of music, The Lightning Bottles is “both a page-turning mystery and a love letter to the grunge era�� (LitHub) that captures a searing portrait of the cost of fame.]]> 304 Marissa Stapley 1668015765 Rachel 3
We have the story of Jane (formerly Janet) Pyre, who runs away from home on her 18th birthday to get away from her very strict, church-going mother. Jane fell in love with a musician she met online, and drove all the way to Seattle, WA from Canada to be with him. Luckily, it was meant to be and they went on to make beautiful music together��

However, things were not always easy for Jane and Elijah. Elijah’s friends hated Jane, as did all their fans. Elijah struggled with substance abuse problems, and Jane always felt like she was the problem. They had to deal with legal issues, all while growing up in the public eye. Then Elijah disappears, and maybe Jane has one friend that can help her find out what really happened��

Unfortunately, I didn’t care for any of the characters in this book and I felt that it was unnecessarily long. As I mentioned above, I didn’t get that nostalgic feeling I was looking for, and I think that those who enjoy reading about young love might enjoy this book more than I did.
(2.5 stars - rounded up)

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: September 24, 2024.]]> 3.93 2024
author: Marissa Stapley
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/29
date added: 2024/06/30
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
This is another book that I had high expectations going into, as I enjoyed the authors previous book, “Lucky��. However, I didn’t feel very lucky after having read this newest release. This is a story about musicians in the 1990’s, and I thought that I would feel a great sense of nostalgia and longing for what was once a great time in my life. This book didn’t bring me any joy unfortunately, and the pages and chapters seemed to drag on�� This book is also labeled as General/Historical Fiction for adults, but I feel that it is more of a YA read.

We have the story of Jane (formerly Janet) Pyre, who runs away from home on her 18th birthday to get away from her very strict, church-going mother. Jane fell in love with a musician she met online, and drove all the way to Seattle, WA from Canada to be with him. Luckily, it was meant to be and they went on to make beautiful music together��

However, things were not always easy for Jane and Elijah. Elijah’s friends hated Jane, as did all their fans. Elijah struggled with substance abuse problems, and Jane always felt like she was the problem. They had to deal with legal issues, all while growing up in the public eye. Then Elijah disappears, and maybe Jane has one friend that can help her find out what really happened��

Unfortunately, I didn’t care for any of the characters in this book and I felt that it was unnecessarily long. As I mentioned above, I didn’t get that nostalgic feeling I was looking for, and I think that those who enjoy reading about young love might enjoy this book more than I did.
(2.5 stars - rounded up)

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: September 24, 2024.
]]> 199757490 A chilling horror novel about a haunting told from the perspective of a young girl whose troubled family is targeted by an entity she calls “Other Mommy,�� from the New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box
��
To eight-year-old Bela, her family is her world. There’s��Mommy,��Daddo,��and Grandma Ruth.��But there is also Other Mommy, a malevolent entity who asks her every day: “Can I go inside your heart?”����
��
When horrifying incidents around the house signal that Other Mommy is growing tired of asking Bela the same question, over and over . . . Bela understands that unless she says yes, soon her family must pay.��
��
Other Mommy is getting restless, stronger, bolder. Only the bonds of family can keep Bela safe but other incidents show cracks in her parents' marriage. The safety Bela relies on is on the brink of unraveling.����
��
But Other Mommy needs an answer.��
��
Incidents Around the House is a chilling, wholly unique tale of true horror told by the child Bela. A story about a family as haunted as their home.]]> 367 Josh Malerman 0593723120 Rachel 2
Bela, Daddo, and Mommy all live together. Bela sees “Other Mommy��. “Other Mommy�� lives in her closet. Now “other mommy�� comes out of the closet. (Do you like my second grade sentences? Because this is what you’ll get throughout the whole book). Other Mommy comes to Bela everyday and asks to go inside her heart. Oh no, what should Bela do?

At first, only Bela could see “other mommy��, but now others can see her too. What is happening? How will we ever get rid of “other mommy��? If you’re curious, please read this book to find out.

There are many five star reviews for this book, and others are loving it. However, this book just didn’t work for me. I wanted to be scared, and I wasn’t at all. I would also read a few pages and doze off (which is not a good sign).

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine, and the author for an ARC of this book in which I am leaving an honest review.
Publication date: June 25, 2024]]> 3.61 2024
author: Josh Malerman
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2024
rating: 2
read at: 2024/06/16
date added: 2024/06/16
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
The only incident around here is that I read this whole book. This is a very short read, and it took me forever to get through this. The choppy short sentences from eight year old Bela were painful to read, and this story was not creepy or scary to me at all! I kept waiting for something to happen, but it never did. I guess the ending is good, but if you can suffer through this to get there, then more power to you. This book is labeled as a horror novel, but I would label it as a children’s book.

Bela, Daddo, and Mommy all live together. Bela sees “Other Mommy��. “Other Mommy�� lives in her closet. Now “other mommy�� comes out of the closet. (Do you like my second grade sentences? Because this is what you’ll get throughout the whole book). Other Mommy comes to Bela everyday and asks to go inside her heart. Oh no, what should Bela do?

At first, only Bela could see “other mommy��, but now others can see her too. What is happening? How will we ever get rid of “other mommy��? If you’re curious, please read this book to find out.

There are many five star reviews for this book, and others are loving it. However, this book just didn’t work for me. I wanted to be scared, and I wasn’t at all. I would also read a few pages and doze off (which is not a good sign).

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine, and the author for an ARC of this book in which I am leaving an honest review.
Publication date: June 25, 2024
]]> 208516656 If you knew your future, would you try to fight fate?

Aside from a delay, there will be no problems. The flight will be smooth, it will land safely. Everyone who gets on the plane will get off. But almost all of them will be forever changed.

Because on this ordinary, short, domestic flight, something extraordinary happens. People learn how and when they are going to die. For some, their death is far in the future—age 103!—and they laugh. But for six passengers, their predicted deaths are not far away at all.

How do they know this? There were ostensibly more interesting people on the flight (the bride and groom, the jittery, possibly famous woman, the giant Hemsworth-esque guy who looks like an off-duty superhero, the frazzled, gorgeous flight attendant) but none would become as famous as “The Death Lady.��

Not a single passenger or crew member will later recall noticing her board the plane. She wasn’t exceptionally old or young, rude or polite. She wasn’t drunk or nervous or pregnant. Her appearance and demeanor were unremarkable. But what she did on that flight was truly remarkable.

A few months later, one passenger dies exactly as she predicted. Then two more passengers die, again, as she said they would. Soon no one is thinking this is simply an entertaining story at a cocktail party.

If you were told you only had a certain amount of time left to live, would you do things differently? Would you try to dodge your destiny?

Liane Moriarty’s Here One Moment is a brilliantly constructed tale that looks at free will and destiny, grief and love, and the endless struggle to maintain certainty and control in an uncertain world. A modern-day Jane Austen who humorously skewers social mores while spinning a web of mystery, Moriarty asks profound questions in her newest I-can’t-wait-to-find-out-what-happens novel.]]> 512 Liane Moriarty 0593798600 Rachel 5 Can fate be fought?
Can we take precautions in life to make sure we live a long and healthy life, or does the universe have plans for some of us no matter what? If a psychic determined your life span, and what you would die from- would you believe them?

After a flight traveling from Hobart to Sydney is delayed for 90 minutes, and passengers are already irritated and fidgety, they finally take off! That’s when a middle-aged woman gets up and starts pointing her finger at everyone and telling each passenger, including a very lovely flight attendant, when she expects they will die and what the cause will be.

After each passenger returns home from their flight they are a bit nervous (and some skeptical), about whether or not this woman’s predictions will come true. As this story progresses we learn about some of the passengers (and grow very close to a few of them), and pray that this woman is wrong about what she predicted about their life spans.

In the meantime, we find out who made these predictions for these passengers. This woman was Cherry Lockwood. Growing up, her mother was a psychic who went by the name of Madame Mae. Does Cherry possess the same psychic abilities as her mother? Or are there ways to fight fate?

Regardless of fate or psychic abilities, I absolutely loved reading about Cherry’s life and backstory. I loved Cherry’s character (maybe not from the start), and as lengthy as this book was I was sad to see it end. I shed many tears at the end of this book, and I would recommend having tissues nearby. I questioned my own life and destiny, and I think many of you will too after reading this. This is by far my favorite Liane Moriarty book. I cannot wait until this book is published so I can have a hardcover for my own personal shelves. I highly recommend this book, and hope you love it as much as I did!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crown Publishing, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: September 10, 2024.]]> 3.98 2024
author: Liane Moriarty
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/06/10
date added: 2024/06/10
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, favorites, from-publisher, netgalley
review:

Can fate be fought?
Can we take precautions in life to make sure we live a long and healthy life, or does the universe have plans for some of us no matter what? If a psychic determined your life span, and what you would die from- would you believe them?

After a flight traveling from Hobart to Sydney is delayed for 90 minutes, and passengers are already irritated and fidgety, they finally take off! That’s when a middle-aged woman gets up and starts pointing her finger at everyone and telling each passenger, including a very lovely flight attendant, when she expects they will die and what the cause will be.

After each passenger returns home from their flight they are a bit nervous (and some skeptical), about whether or not this woman’s predictions will come true. As this story progresses we learn about some of the passengers (and grow very close to a few of them), and pray that this woman is wrong about what she predicted about their life spans.

In the meantime, we find out who made these predictions for these passengers. This woman was Cherry Lockwood. Growing up, her mother was a psychic who went by the name of Madame Mae. Does Cherry possess the same psychic abilities as her mother? Or are there ways to fight fate?

Regardless of fate or psychic abilities, I absolutely loved reading about Cherry’s life and backstory. I loved Cherry’s character (maybe not from the start), and as lengthy as this book was I was sad to see it end. I shed many tears at the end of this book, and I would recommend having tissues nearby. I questioned my own life and destiny, and I think many of you will too after reading this. This is by far my favorite Liane Moriarty book. I cannot wait until this book is published so I can have a hardcover for my own personal shelves. I highly recommend this book, and hope you love it as much as I did!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crown Publishing, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: September 10, 2024.
]]> 199927656
Alex Walker has always looked up to her perfect older sister. Maddie has succeeded in all the ways Alex has not: she escaped their hometown and seems to have put the memories of their unstable childhood behind her. But despite the different paths their lives have taken, the two sisters made a pact to spend one week together every summer. It was a promise they’d never broken. . . Until now.

When Maddie suddenly cancels her annual trip home, Alex begins to worry. But when she stops returning her calls altogether, Alex is certain something is wrong. Relying on the only clues Maddie left behind, Alex follows her sister's footsteps to the Hamptons, where she meets the Blackwell family—the last people to have seen Maddie alive before she vanished into thin air. The Blackwells seem to have it all: wealth, beauty, and a beach-side mansion on a private stretch of Hamptons real estate. It's a world unlike any Alex has ever known, but she quickly discovers that looks can be deceiving, and a life of luxury always comes at a cost.]]> 368 Stephanie DeCarolis 0593726014 Rachel 3
In this story, we have Alex who goes searching for her missing sister Maddie in the Hampton’s. Maddie’s last known residence was at the Blackwell’s mansion, where she resided in their pool house. No one in the Blackwell family has heard from Maddie in days, and Alex knows that she would never miss her birthday. Therefore, Alex goes on a mission of her own questioning and following anyone who may have had contact with Maddie.

This book is told in alternating chapters of Alex, Maddie (before), Lily, Katherine, Theo, James, and The Wharf (but why?!). This story had way too many eye-roll moments for me, and was super far-fetched. I’m not sure if it was longer than necessary or if I just couldn’t wait for it to be over? Anyways, I can’t say that I would recommend this book as it wasn’t one of my favorites. However, in reading the Acknowledgments at the end it seems there are film rights for this book- so maybe I just don’t know what I’m talking about.
(2.5 stars)

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine, and the author for an ARC of this book. Publication date: July 16, 2024.]]> 3.72 2024
author: Stephanie DeCarolis
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/19
date added: 2024/05/19
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Let’s just say that I am one of those people who wants to read a book based on the cover alone (I mean the cover for this book is stunning). Unfortunately, for this book the cover was way better than the story. I had super high hopes for this book, but it was very underwhelming. The story dragged on, and the writing felt very juvenile (maybe if I was in my 20’s or 30’s, I would have appreciated it more).

In this story, we have Alex who goes searching for her missing sister Maddie in the Hampton’s. Maddie’s last known residence was at the Blackwell’s mansion, where she resided in their pool house. No one in the Blackwell family has heard from Maddie in days, and Alex knows that she would never miss her birthday. Therefore, Alex goes on a mission of her own questioning and following anyone who may have had contact with Maddie.

This book is told in alternating chapters of Alex, Maddie (before), Lily, Katherine, Theo, James, and The Wharf (but why?!). This story had way too many eye-roll moments for me, and was super far-fetched. I’m not sure if it was longer than necessary or if I just couldn’t wait for it to be over? Anyways, I can’t say that I would recommend this book as it wasn’t one of my favorites. However, in reading the Acknowledgments at the end it seems there are film rights for this book- so maybe I just don’t know what I’m talking about.
(2.5 stars)

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine, and the author for an ARC of this book. Publication date: July 16, 2024.
]]> 195790670
With no trace of Ali or the car, a cloud of suspicion hangs over Ryan. But with no proof and a good lawyer, he’s never charged, though that doesn’t matter to the podcasters and internet trolls. Now, Ryan has changed his last name, and entered law school. He's put his past behind him.

Until, on a summer trip abroad to Italy with his law-school classmates, Ryan gets a call from his father: Ali's car has finally been found, submerged in a lake in his hometown. Inside are two dead men and a cryptic note with five words written on the envelope in Ali’s handwriting: If something happens to me��

Then, halfway around the world, the unthinkable happens: Ryan sees the man who has haunted his dreams since that night.

As Ryan races from the rolling hills of Tuscany, to a rural village in the UK, to the glittering streets of Paris in search of the truth, he has no idea that his salvation may lie with a young sheriff’s deputy in Kansas working her first case, and a mobster in Philadelphia who’s experienced tragedy of his own.

In classic Alex Finlay form, If Something Happens to Me is told from several distinct, compelling characters whose paths intersect, detonating into a story of twist after pulse-pounding twist. The story cements Finlay as one of the leading thriller writers today.]]> 324 Alex Finlay 1250863791 Rachel 4 This story started off with a bang- and just kept on going!! I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to keep up, because we have several locations and characters throughout this story. But don’t worry, it’s easy to keep up with, and all the twists and turns have everything come together nicely.

Poppy is a new police detective, and it’s her first day on the job when a car that has been submerged underwater in the lake nearby has been discovered. Is this the car that belonged to Alison Lane, the teenage girl that went missing all those years ago? Alison’s boyfriend, Ryan Richardson was yanked out of the car and has little memory of what happened that night. Does Ryan remember the man that yanked him out of the car and drove off with his girlfriend, or is it just a figment of his imagination? What really happened that night, and will Ryan ever live a normal life again?

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania we have Shane O’Leary who “runs�� the city per se�� Shane is a man that you don’t want to double cross, and he has several men that work for him. Yes, he’s a mob boss. Shane and his wife experience a horrible tragedy, and all those involved will pay. But just how far can you run?

This story was divided into three parts with short, quick chapters that made this book easy to read. This book was action packed and full of thrills! Once again, Alex Finlay is at the top of his game and moving forward he is an auto-read/auto-buy author for me! This is one book that you don’t want to miss!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for an ARC of this book. Publication date: May 28, 2024. Genre~ General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers]]> 3.69 2024
author: Alex Finlay
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/09
date added: 2024/04/09
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:

This story started off with a bang- and just kept on going!! I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to keep up, because we have several locations and characters throughout this story. But don’t worry, it’s easy to keep up with, and all the twists and turns have everything come together nicely.

Poppy is a new police detective, and it’s her first day on the job when a car that has been submerged underwater in the lake nearby has been discovered. Is this the car that belonged to Alison Lane, the teenage girl that went missing all those years ago? Alison’s boyfriend, Ryan Richardson was yanked out of the car and has little memory of what happened that night. Does Ryan remember the man that yanked him out of the car and drove off with his girlfriend, or is it just a figment of his imagination? What really happened that night, and will Ryan ever live a normal life again?

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania we have Shane O’Leary who “runs�� the city per se�� Shane is a man that you don’t want to double cross, and he has several men that work for him. Yes, he’s a mob boss. Shane and his wife experience a horrible tragedy, and all those involved will pay. But just how far can you run?

This story was divided into three parts with short, quick chapters that made this book easy to read. This book was action packed and full of thrills! Once again, Alex Finlay is at the top of his game and moving forward he is an auto-read/auto-buy author for me! This is one book that you don’t want to miss!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for an ARC of this book. Publication date: May 28, 2024. Genre~ General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
]]> 202514059
Maria, once an ambitious medical student, is a nanny for the super-rich. The money’s better, and so are the destinations where her work takes her. Just one more gig, and she’ll be set. Finally, she’ll be secure. But when her wards never show, Maria begins to make herself at home, spending her days luxuriating by the pool and in the sauna.

There’s just one rule: Don’t go in the basement. That room is off-limits. But her curiosity might just get the better of her.

And soon, she’ll wish her only worry was not getting paid.]]> 320 Catherine Steadman 059372576X Rachel 3
After Nina’s father dies, she receives a letter stating that he owns a three- bedroom Beachfront Estate in the British Virgin Islands. Nina and her father were very close (or so she thought), and she never knew that he owned this property. Nina now has to go to the Islands and visit this beautiful house that she knew nothing about. When Nina arrives to the house, she learns that the house (mansion) is called Anderssen’s Opening - which is a chess move that her father taught her about many years ago. ♟️

We then have Maria, who is a nanny that works for the very wealthy. She gets to the house where the family never shows up. She only has one rule at the mansion that she is staying at- Do not go into the locked door in the basement. Well, enquiring minds do want to know��

This story is told in alternating POV’s between Nina, Maria, and Joon-gi (the electrician on the scene). I will say that I did enjoy Maria’s chapters the best. The rest of the story was a little too outlandish for me. I do enjoy thrillers and suspense, but this book had more of an escape room/survivor vibe. So if you like games with lots of rules, then you will enjoy this book.

I would also like to point out that this was a fairly short read with quick chapters. However, the ending was very abrupt and rushed. There were also some twists at the very end that were thrown in to try and redeem this story, but they didn’t quite work.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and the author for an ARC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: July 30, 2024.
Genre~ General/Women’s Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers]]> 3.57 2024
author: Catherine Steadman
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/04/04
date added: 2024/04/04
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
So this book was not what I was expecting�� this was definitely different. I will say that this was a decent read, but not my favorite by Steadman.

After Nina’s father dies, she receives a letter stating that he owns a three- bedroom Beachfront Estate in the British Virgin Islands. Nina and her father were very close (or so she thought), and she never knew that he owned this property. Nina now has to go to the Islands and visit this beautiful house that she knew nothing about. When Nina arrives to the house, she learns that the house (mansion) is called Anderssen’s Opening - which is a chess move that her father taught her about many years ago. ♟️

We then have Maria, who is a nanny that works for the very wealthy. She gets to the house where the family never shows up. She only has one rule at the mansion that she is staying at- Do not go into the locked door in the basement. Well, enquiring minds do want to know��

This story is told in alternating POV’s between Nina, Maria, and Joon-gi (the electrician on the scene). I will say that I did enjoy Maria’s chapters the best. The rest of the story was a little too outlandish for me. I do enjoy thrillers and suspense, but this book had more of an escape room/survivor vibe. So if you like games with lots of rules, then you will enjoy this book.

I would also like to point out that this was a fairly short read with quick chapters. However, the ending was very abrupt and rushed. There were also some twists at the very end that were thrown in to try and redeem this story, but they didn’t quite work.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and the author for an ARC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: July 30, 2024.
Genre~ General/Women’s Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
]]> 203636501 Beneath the surface of every marriage there are secrets. This one is deadly.

My husband is lying. The minute he came home with alcohol on his breath and unable to look me in the eyes I knew it.

We used to be in love �� the intense ‘I can’t be without you for a second�� kind. Where it hurts deep to be apart.

But now, we’re the couple that keep secrets from each other.

We hide the truth.

He thought I wouldn’t find out. I’m a detective �� it’s literally my job to uncover clues and solve mysteries. I know what he did.

And now I’m sitting here, in a police interview, being asked the question ‘did you kill her?�� to which I utter one life-shattering ‘yes.��

A jaw-dropping, twist-filled emotional rollercoaster of a read for fans of Gone Girl, The Perfect Marriage, and The Girl on the Train. ]]> 266 Amanda McKinney 1805085220 Rachel 4
In this story we have Rowan Velky who is an unhappily married homicide detective at the Blackbird Cove Police Department. Rowan’s husband, Shepherd hasn’t worked in months and her aunt who is currently battling dementia is living with them. Rowan is stressed out and overworked.

We also have alternating chapters of Amber in this story. Amber is Rowan’s therapist. Amber is yet another unhappy married woman. Not only is Amber unhappily married, but she just learned that her young son has some cognitive issues as well.

While we are learning about the lives of Rowan and Amber, there are three murders that take place in the town. Rowan is on the case to find out who and if there is a serial killer involved. All these women have distinct markings on them, so it appears that they must all be related somehow. But who will get to the bottom of these murders? And why were these women killed in the first place?

This was a fast-paced book that I did enjoy, I just didn’t love it. I did however, love the short chapters and Rowan’s character. Moving forward, I would love to read more about Rowan Velky and hope that there might be a sequel to this book!
(3.5 stars- rounded up)

Many thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: March 29, 2024.
Genre~ General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers]]> 3.83 2024
author: Amanda McKinney
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/14
date added: 2024/03/14
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I think I started off liking this book more than I did when it ended�� I loved our main character of Rowan Velky and her backstory, but some of the other characters not so much. I also found this story to be quite predictable, which is okay- but it took away from the shock value that I was expecting.

In this story we have Rowan Velky who is an unhappily married homicide detective at the Blackbird Cove Police Department. Rowan’s husband, Shepherd hasn’t worked in months and her aunt who is currently battling dementia is living with them. Rowan is stressed out and overworked.

We also have alternating chapters of Amber in this story. Amber is Rowan’s therapist. Amber is yet another unhappy married woman. Not only is Amber unhappily married, but she just learned that her young son has some cognitive issues as well.

While we are learning about the lives of Rowan and Amber, there are three murders that take place in the town. Rowan is on the case to find out who and if there is a serial killer involved. All these women have distinct markings on them, so it appears that they must all be related somehow. But who will get to the bottom of these murders? And why were these women killed in the first place?

This was a fast-paced book that I did enjoy, I just didn’t love it. I did however, love the short chapters and Rowan’s character. Moving forward, I would love to read more about Rowan Velky and hope that there might be a sequel to this book!
(3.5 stars- rounded up)

Many thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: March 29, 2024.
Genre~ General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
]]> 195513675 A missing family. A traumatized detective. The past and present collide in a riveting novel of suspense by the USA Today bestselling author of These Still Black Waters, Do No Harm, Behind Every Lie, and The Night Olivia Fell.

Late Christmas Eve, the Harper family’s car crashed on a desolate stretch outside Black Lake. Sixteen-year-old Alice was found injured by the side of the road—alone. It was as if her parents and younger sister, Ella, had simply disappeared.

One year later, Alice is still dealing with nightmares and unanswered questions when she and her friends find Ella’s bloodstained backpack in the basement of an abandoned home. As Detective Jess Lambert investigates, she uncovers dark secrets that put her on a collision course with her past. Jess’s only witness is haunted by her own ghosts—ghosts that might ultimately be connected to Jess.

Jess will do anything to find out what happened to the Harpers—no matter how deep she has to dig. Because neither the living nor the dead are giving up their secrets easily.]]> 347 Christina McDonald 1662511647 Rachel 4
In this story we have the main character of Alice Harper. Alice lost her parents and younger sister, Ella nearly a year ago late Christmas Eve during a terrible car crash. It was a snowy night, and the family vehicle slid on some ice, flipped over and all family members were presumed dead except Alice. Alice awoke from the crash bloodied, bruised up, and with a broken arm. However, her parents and sister were nowhere to be found. How could her other family members have just disappeared into thin air? They obviously must be dead, or they would have come for her. Right?

Now enter Jess Lambert, my favorite book detective (yes, I can totally relate to her bad leg). Jess is in search of the missing Harper’s. Jess becomes close to Alice, as she knows they can both see and feel things that others cannot. Can Jess protect Alice and help her find her family? Also, can Jess heal from her own personal trauma and problems while trying to solve this case and move forward with her life?

This book was easy to read as it was told in alternating chapters of Alice, Jess, and Laura’s (Harper), POV’s. This book can easily be read as a standalone, although I do recommend reading “These Still Black Waters�� beforehand- just to get a clearer understanding of Jess Lambert’s life (Oh, and there’s also a prequel too ]]> 4.14 2024
author: Christina McDonald
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/03
date added: 2024/03/07
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
So, this is the second book in the Jess Lambert series and I will say that I am already wanting more!! I’m not typically a big fan of series (it’s just too big of a commitment to get started on), but I love Jess Lambert’s detective character. I’m also starting to love author Christina McDonald more and more with each book that she writes. This book kept me glued to the pages from the first chapter, and made my head spin a little at the last chapter (I totally did not see that coming)!

In this story we have the main character of Alice Harper. Alice lost her parents and younger sister, Ella nearly a year ago late Christmas Eve during a terrible car crash. It was a snowy night, and the family vehicle slid on some ice, flipped over and all family members were presumed dead except Alice. Alice awoke from the crash bloodied, bruised up, and with a broken arm. However, her parents and sister were nowhere to be found. How could her other family members have just disappeared into thin air? They obviously must be dead, or they would have come for her. Right?

Now enter Jess Lambert, my favorite book detective (yes, I can totally relate to her bad leg). Jess is in search of the missing Harper’s. Jess becomes close to Alice, as she knows they can both see and feel things that others cannot. Can Jess protect Alice and help her find her family? Also, can Jess heal from her own personal trauma and problems while trying to solve this case and move forward with her life?

This book was easy to read as it was told in alternating chapters of Alice, Jess, and Laura’s (Harper), POV’s. This book can easily be read as a standalone, although I do recommend reading “These Still Black Waters�� beforehand- just to get a clearer understanding of Jess Lambert’s life (Oh, and there’s also a prequel too
]]> 195790841 Lenny Marks is excellent at not having a life.

She bikes home from work at exactly 4pm each day, buys the same groceries for the same meals every week, and owns thirty-six copies of The Hobbit (currently arranged by height). The closest thing she has to a friendship is playing Scrabble against an imaginary Monica Gellar while watching Friends reruns.

And Lenny Marks is very, very good at not remembering what happened the day her mother and stepfather disappeared when she was still a child. The day a voice in the back of her mind started whispering, You did this.

Until a letter from the parole board arrives in the mail—and when her desperate attempts to ignore it fail, Lenny starts to unravel. As long-buried memories come to the surface, Lenny’s careful routines fall apart. For the first time, she finds herself forced to connect with the community around her, and unexpected new relationships begin to bloom. Lenny Marks may finally get a life—but what if her past catches up to her first?

Equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, Kerryn Mayne’s stunning debut is an irresistible novel about truth, secrets, vengeance, and family lost and found, with a heroine who's simply unforgettable.]]> 352 Kerryn Mayne 1250340101 Rachel 4 3.92 2023
author: Kerryn Mayne
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/02
date added: 2024/03/02
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, favorites, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Don’t let the title and cover fool you! This book is amazing!!
]]> 198563729 Daphne and Amber Parrish are thrust back into each other’s lives upon the resurgence of a long-forgotten threat, forcing a vicious game of cat and mouse where everything is on the line, in this thrilling sequel to the million-copy-bestselling Reese’s Book Club pick The Last Mrs. Parrish.

Amber Patterson Parrish has come a long way from being an invisible wallflower. Her hard work and immaculate planning have paid off now that she’s a prominent socialite, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been bumps along the way. Less than a year since her husband Jackson’s tax-evasion scandal, Amber is still at the top of the Bishops Harbor community pecking order, free to do as she wishes while Jackson sits in prison. But that freedom is quickly coming to an end. With Jackson getting released from prison, Amber’s time—and money—is vanishing.

Meanwhile, Daphne Parrish left Bishops Harbor after her divorce from Jackson Parrish, swearing she would never go back. But when one of her daughters runs away from home, desperate to see her father, Daphne agrees to return for the summer to allow him supervised visits. Once out of prison, Jackson swears he’s a changed man, but Daphne knows all too well that he can’t be trusted.

When a ghost from Amber’s past emerges looking for revenge, the three of them find unlikely allies in one another, but who is playing who? When all is said and done, they’ll have to fight tooth and nail for everything they have left in this zero-sum game.

With shocking turns and entertaining characters, The Next Mrs. Parrish will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about duplicity and betrayal.]]> 336 Liv Constantine 0593599926 Rachel 4
In this sequel to The Last Mrs. Parrish, Amber is back and she is more conniving and despicable as ever! Amber is currently married to the wealthy Jackson Parrish, who had to serve time in prison for his tax fraud. They share a son together, which they call Jax.

Daphne, the former Mrs. Parrish, comes back to the town of Bishops Harbor after moving herself and her two daughters away to California. Her oldest daughter, Tallulah is missing her father immensely, and against her better judgment she agrees to take this trip to Bishops Harbor to let her daughters see Jackson. Has Jackson really changed since he’s been in prison, or is he the same con artist he’s always been? Does he have it in him to be a loving husband and father to his current wife and children?

We also have the new character of Daisy Ann. Daisy Ann runs a famous jewelry line in which Amber is certain to take over. I wasn’t quite sure how well Daisy’s character was going to work in this story, but in the end it all wrapped up nicely and she ended up being a great addition to the story.

While I can’t say that I loved this book as much as the first book, I will say that it is a close second ]]> 3.75 2024
author: Liv Constantine
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/17
date added: 2024/02/17
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Imagine my surprise when I saw there was a sequel to one of my favorite books ever!! Picture me jumping for joy when I was approved for an ARC of The Next Mrs. Parrish!! Once again, my favorite writing duo did not disappoint with this follow up to The Last Mrs. Parrish. Was this book really necessary? Probably not. But was it twisty and entertaining? Most definitely!

In this sequel to The Last Mrs. Parrish, Amber is back and she is more conniving and despicable as ever! Amber is currently married to the wealthy Jackson Parrish, who had to serve time in prison for his tax fraud. They share a son together, which they call Jax.

Daphne, the former Mrs. Parrish, comes back to the town of Bishops Harbor after moving herself and her two daughters away to California. Her oldest daughter, Tallulah is missing her father immensely, and against her better judgment she agrees to take this trip to Bishops Harbor to let her daughters see Jackson. Has Jackson really changed since he’s been in prison, or is he the same con artist he’s always been? Does he have it in him to be a loving husband and father to his current wife and children?

We also have the new character of Daisy Ann. Daisy Ann runs a famous jewelry line in which Amber is certain to take over. I wasn’t quite sure how well Daisy’s character was going to work in this story, but in the end it all wrapped up nicely and she ended up being a great addition to the story.

While I can’t say that I loved this book as much as the first book, I will say that it is a close second
]]> 205865947 Secrets, murder and revenge converge in this gripping prequel to Amazon charts bestselling thriller, These Still Black Waters, about a young Jess Lambert drawn into a deadly cat-and-mouse game. Because old ghosts often have old scores to settle.

Jess Lambert and her husband, Mac, have just moved to Black Lake, looking for a quieter, more peaceful life. Until one morning Jess befriends a stranger—beautiful and glamorous Annie Parker—who’s also just moved to town.

Only a few hours later, Jess finds Annie wandering naked and in shock along the lake. And at Annie’s house she encounters a gruesome scene that shows a violent attack. But then Annie disappears.

As Jess is pulled deeper into the mystery of what happened to Annie, she learns about the house’s chilling past. And she begins to who was Annie really? Is she a witness, murderer, victim?

But it’s dangerous hunting down old ghosts. And Jess becomes increasingly unsure if she’s the hunter, or the prey. Who is the stranger at Black Lake?]]> 158 Christina McDonald 173851840X Rachel 4
In this short story, Jess Lambert has just moved with her husband Mac to Black Lake into their new home. Jess is currently not working, after having been a paramedic in NY and is quite lonely while her husband goes to work all day. One morning while getting coffee in town, Jess meets Annie and they become friendly with each other and even exchange phone numbers. Later on that day, Jess sees Annie walking naked by the lake with only her shoes on. When Jess rushes to help Annie at her home (because that’s what paramedics normally do), she finds a dead man on Annie’s kitchen floor. Jess calls 911 for help, but then Annie disappears. Who is the dead man on the floor? And where is Annie?

The story then takes us into Annie’s disappearance and background, with Jess looking for her. Jess then re-enters Annie’s home (which is called The Gingerbread House) for more information on Annie and the family that used to live there. Was that a bad or good move on Jess’s part?
Read this short, twisty thriller to find out! I definitely recommend!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Intrigue Ink Publishing, and the author for an ARC of this novella which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: March 19, 2024
Genre~ Novellas & Short Stories, General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers]]> 4.01
author: Christina McDonald
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.01
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/09
date added: 2024/02/09
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
This book is the prequel to “These Still Black Waters��, which was a five star read for me last year. To say I was very excited to see and read this novella is an understatement! “The Stranger At Black Lake��, is about a younger Jess Lambert who just moves to the town of Black Lake. Did this novella deliver? It certainly did! But now I need another sequel to the prequel�� or prequel to the sequel (you know what I mean).

In this short story, Jess Lambert has just moved with her husband Mac to Black Lake into their new home. Jess is currently not working, after having been a paramedic in NY and is quite lonely while her husband goes to work all day. One morning while getting coffee in town, Jess meets Annie and they become friendly with each other and even exchange phone numbers. Later on that day, Jess sees Annie walking naked by the lake with only her shoes on. When Jess rushes to help Annie at her home (because that’s what paramedics normally do), she finds a dead man on Annie’s kitchen floor. Jess calls 911 for help, but then Annie disappears. Who is the dead man on the floor? And where is Annie?

The story then takes us into Annie’s disappearance and background, with Jess looking for her. Jess then re-enters Annie’s home (which is called The Gingerbread House) for more information on Annie and the family that used to live there. Was that a bad or good move on Jess’s part?
Read this short, twisty thriller to find out! I definitely recommend!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Intrigue Ink Publishing, and the author for an ARC of this novella which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: March 19, 2024
Genre~ Novellas & Short Stories, General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
]]> 195790531
A young nanny who plunged to her death, or was she pushed? A nine-year-old girl who collects sharp objects and refuses to speak. A lawyer whose job it is to uncover who in the family is a victim and who is a murderer. But how can you find out the truth when everyone here is lying?

Rose Barclay is a nine-year-old girl who witnessed the possible murder of her nanny - in the midst of her parent's bitter divorce - and immediately stopped speaking. Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney, appointed to serve as counsel for children in custody cases. She never accepts clients under thirteen due to her own traumatic childhood, but Stella's mentor, a revered judge, believes Stella is the only one who can help.

From the moment Stella passes through the iron security gate and steps into the gilded, historic DC home of the Barclays, she realizes the case is even more twisted, and the Barclay family far more troubled, than she feared. And there's something eerie about the house itself: It's a plastic house, with not a single bit of glass to be found.

As Stella comes closer to uncovering the secrets the Barclays are desperate to hide, danger wraps around her like a shroud, and her past and present are set on a collision course in ways she never expected. Everyone is a suspect in the nanny's murder. The mother, the father, the grandmother, the nanny's boyfriend. Even Rose. Is the person Stella's supposed to protect the one she may need protection from?]]> 341 Sarah Pekkanen 125028399X Rachel 5
In this story we have Stella Hudson, who is appointed counsel for Rose Barclay. Rose is a nine year old girl whose parents are going through a bitter divorce, and she has also just witnessed the death of her nanny. During this traumatic time, Rose has developed traumatic mutism and she cannot speak. Stella can relate to Rose because when Stella was a young girl she witnessed the death of her mother, and then developed traumatic mutism herself.

Because Rose’s parents are divorcing, it is Stella’s job to spend time with Rose and her parents to see who would be the better parent for Rose to live with once they divorce. We have the wealthy, uptight Beth Barclay- her mother. Then there is Ian Barclay, more down to earth and not so wealthy- her father. We soon learn that Ian’s mother, Harriet has lived with the Barclay’s for several years and is witness to many events that has happened within the family.

Which brings us to the death of the nanny, Tina. Tina fell to her death through her third story bedroom window. Was she pushed? Was it an accident? Or was it suicide? And did Rose witness what really happened that night? Also why are the parents replacing all the glass in the house? Even the mirrors are being replaced��

This book had my attention from the first page all the way through until the last! I loved Stella’s character, and felt that everything and everyone else was so relatable and real. I’m so glad that I took a chance with this book, and I cannot wait to read Pekkanen’s next! I highly recommend this twisty thriller!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: August 6, 2024.
Genre~ Women’s Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers]]> 3.84 2024
author: Sarah Pekkanen
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/01/27
date added: 2024/01/27
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, favorites, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I’m not going to lie- I was very hesitant to read this as the author’s previous book, “Gone Tonight�� was not one of my favorites. However, Sarah Pekkanen redeemed herself with “House of Glass��, because I absolutely enjoyed everything about this book! The writing and the storyline were absolutely remarkable!

In this story we have Stella Hudson, who is appointed counsel for Rose Barclay. Rose is a nine year old girl whose parents are going through a bitter divorce, and she has also just witnessed the death of her nanny. During this traumatic time, Rose has developed traumatic mutism and she cannot speak. Stella can relate to Rose because when Stella was a young girl she witnessed the death of her mother, and then developed traumatic mutism herself.

Because Rose’s parents are divorcing, it is Stella’s job to spend time with Rose and her parents to see who would be the better parent for Rose to live with once they divorce. We have the wealthy, uptight Beth Barclay- her mother. Then there is Ian Barclay, more down to earth and not so wealthy- her father. We soon learn that Ian’s mother, Harriet has lived with the Barclay’s for several years and is witness to many events that has happened within the family.

Which brings us to the death of the nanny, Tina. Tina fell to her death through her third story bedroom window. Was she pushed? Was it an accident? Or was it suicide? And did Rose witness what really happened that night? Also why are the parents replacing all the glass in the house? Even the mirrors are being replaced��

This book had my attention from the first page all the way through until the last! I loved Stella’s character, and felt that everything and everyone else was so relatable and real. I’m so glad that I took a chance with this book, and I cannot wait to read Pekkanen’s next! I highly recommend this twisty thriller!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: August 6, 2024.
Genre~ Women’s Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers
]]> 195790534 The newest, riveting summer suspense by the author of The Block Party, Jamie Day.

The Precipice is a legendary, family-owned hotel on the rocky coast of Maine. With the recent passing of their father, the Bishop sisters—Iris, Vicki, and Faith—have come for the weekend to claim it. But with a hurricane looming and each of the Bishop sisters harboring dangerous secrets, there's murder in the air—and not everyone who checks into the Precipice will be checking out.

Each sister wants what is rightfully hers, and in the mix is the Precipe's nineteen-year-old chambermaid Charley Kelley: smart, resilient, older than her years, and in desperate straits.

The arrival of the Bishop sisters could spell disaster for Charley. Will they close the hotel? Fire her? Discover her habit of pilfering from guests? Or even worse, learn that she's using a guest room to hide a woman on the run.

With razor-sharp wit, heart, thrills, and twists, Jamie Day delivers a unique brand of SUMMERTIME SUSPENSE.]]> 360 Jamie Day 1250283205 Rachel 3
This story centers around Charley, who works at The Precipice Hotel. Charley is young, broke, and trying to pay for her grandmother’s care at an assisted living home. The owner of The Precipice Hotel, George Bishop, passes away- which involves his three daughters coming to town for the funeral. The arrival of the Bishop sisters- Vicki, Faith, and Iris bring a whole set of thrills and complications to the hotel. As the author stated in the book, “these sisters definitely put the fun in dysfunctional!�� I just wish that I would have had more fun when I was reading about them��

This story was broken down into Four Parts. While the chapters were nice and short (that’s always an added bonus), I unfortunately felt that this book was too long. It started off with a bang for me, but about halfway through I felt the story started to drag on. I also predicted what was going to happen and how this story would end pretty early on. Another thing that took away from my enjoyment was all the backstories on each of the characters- now normally I enjoy that, but for a thriller it just made for a super long book.

I had super high hopes and expectations going into this book, especially since I loved the author’s debut novel so much. But as you can see, this was a middle of the road read for me. Will I read more from this author? You betcha!! I just felt that this book was going in a few too many directions.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: July 16, 2024.
Genre~ General Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers]]> 3.45 2024
author: Jamie Day
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.45
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/01/18
date added: 2024/01/18
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I want to start off by saying that I was super happy to get my hands on the advanced copy of this book, considering I LOVED the author’s debut “The Block Party��. While I gave “The Block Party�� five glowing stars, this book didn’t quite make the cut for me.

This story centers around Charley, who works at The Precipice Hotel. Charley is young, broke, and trying to pay for her grandmother’s care at an assisted living home. The owner of The Precipice Hotel, George Bishop, passes away- which involves his three daughters coming to town for the funeral. The arrival of the Bishop sisters- Vicki, Faith, and Iris bring a whole set of thrills and complications to the hotel. As the author stated in the book, “these sisters definitely put the fun in dysfunctional!�� I just wish that I would have had more fun when I was reading about them��

This story was broken down into Four Parts. While the chapters were nice and short (that’s always an added bonus), I unfortunately felt that this book was too long. It started off with a bang for me, but about halfway through I felt the story started to drag on. I also predicted what was going to happen and how this story would end pretty early on. Another thing that took away from my enjoyment was all the backstories on each of the characters- now normally I enjoy that, but for a thriller it just made for a super long book.

I had super high hopes and expectations going into this book, especially since I loved the author’s debut novel so much. But as you can see, this was a middle of the road read for me. Will I read more from this author? You betcha!! I just felt that this book was going in a few too many directions.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: July 16, 2024.
Genre~ General Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers
]]> 193537012
A talented tarot reader and a brilliant rider, the Annelise is unlike anyone Rosie has ever met--but when one of their friends notices money disappearing from her bank account, Annelise's place in the circle is thrown into question. As the women turn against each other, the group’s unspoken tensions and assumptions lead to devastating consequences.

It's only after graduation, when Rosie begins a job at a Manhattan hedge fund, that she begins to uncover Annelise's true identity--and how her place in their elite Yale set was no accident. Is it too late for Rosie to make right what went wrong, or does everyone's luck run out at some point? Set in the heady days of the early aughts, The Fortune Seller is a haunting examination of class, ambition, and the desires that shape our lives.]]> 320 Rachel Kapelke-Dale Rachel 4
This story centers around Rosie Macalister. Rosie is a middle class student at Yale, who is definitely considered poor next to her roommates and “best friend�� Cressida (Cress) Tate. While Rosie is accepted, and they all ride horses together- Rosie never expects to have another friend join their group- and be a better rider?

The new friend to the group is Annelise. Annelise is a tarot card reader and loves to read cards for her friends and at parties. Rosie and Annelise become close, as they they share a room together and are often snubbed by their fellow roommates. Things start to get complicated and out of control among the group, and Rosie tries to make things right- even after they have moved on from college.

While this book was interesting and had some good moments, I just felt like it dragged on too long in some parts. I will say that the most redeeming quality of this book was that each chapter had the title of a Tarot Card and its full description, which I thought was absolutely awesome!
(3.5 stars, rounded up).

Many thanks to ŷ������ and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy of this book, which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: February 13, 2024.
]]> 3.44 2024
author: Rachel Kapelke-Dale
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.44
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/01/12
date added: 2024/01/12
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, books-i-own, from-publisher, giveaways
review:
After reading The Ballerinas, and The Ingenue by this author- I was super excited to read this latest release. While I did enjoy this story and the creativity of it, I unfortunately can’t say that I enjoyed it as much as the other two previous books. I felt that this book was rather “wordy��, and it seemed to be much lengthier than it should have been.

This story centers around Rosie Macalister. Rosie is a middle class student at Yale, who is definitely considered poor next to her roommates and “best friend�� Cressida (Cress) Tate. While Rosie is accepted, and they all ride horses together- Rosie never expects to have another friend join their group- and be a better rider?

The new friend to the group is Annelise. Annelise is a tarot card reader and loves to read cards for her friends and at parties. Rosie and Annelise become close, as they they share a room together and are often snubbed by their fellow roommates. Things start to get complicated and out of control among the group, and Rosie tries to make things right- even after they have moved on from college.

While this book was interesting and had some good moments, I just felt like it dragged on too long in some parts. I will say that the most redeeming quality of this book was that each chapter had the title of a Tarot Card and its full description, which I thought was absolutely awesome!
(3.5 stars, rounded up).

Many thanks to ŷ������ and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy of this book, which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: February 13, 2024.

]]> 123206645 A masterfully paced thriller about a reclusive ex–movie star and her famous friends whose spontaneous trip to a private Greek island is upended by a murder �� from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient.

This is a tale of murder.

Or maybe that’s not quite true. At its heart, it’s a love story, isn’t it?

Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex–movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island.

I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time �� it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind…and a murder.

We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse �� a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered.

But who am I?

My name is Elliot Chase, and I’m going to tell you a story unlike any you’ve ever heard.]]> 298 Alex Michaelides 125075898X Rachel 5 3.34 2024
author: Alex Michaelides
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.34
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/01/03
date added: 2024/01/03
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, favorites, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Can we first talk about the brilliant cover for this book?! Why are we not focused on the huge “evil eye�� symbol that is front and center on the cover of this magnificent book? And how convenient that this story takes place on an island in Greece. And for those who are not aware, the Greek evil eyes are “all-seeing eyeballs��, which are supposed to ward off negative energy caused by another’s jealousy.
]]> 199346902
Gia and Abby have been best friends since they were girls, forever bonded by the tragedy that unfolded in Greece when they were eighteen. In the aftermath, bookish Abby threw herself into her studies while heiress Gia chronicled the events of that fateful summer in a salacious memoir.

Twelve years later, Gia is back in Greece for the summer with her shiny new husband and a motley crew of glamorous guests, preparing to sell the family estate in the wake of her father’s death. When Abby receives an invitation from Gia to celebrate her birthday in September beneath the Northern Lights, she’s thrilled to be granted the time off from her high-pressure job. But the day of her flight, she receives a mysterious, threatening email in her inbox, and when she and Gia’s brother Benny arrive at the Swedish resort, Gia isn’t there. After days of cryptic messages and unanswered calls, Abby and Benny are worried enough to fly to Greece to check on her.

Only, when they arrive, they find Gia’s beachfront estate eerily deserted, the sole clue to her whereabouts a manuscript she wrote detailing the events leading up to her disappearance. The pages reveal the dark truth about Gia’s provocative new marriage and the dirty secrets of the guests they entertained with fizzy champagne under the hot Mediterranean sun. As tensions rise, Gia feels less and less safe in her own home. But the pages end abruptly, leaving Abby and Benny with more questions than answers.

Where is Gia now? And, more importantly, will they find her before it’s too late?]]> 368 Katherine Wood 0593726448 Rachel 3
This story started off super intriguing with two very interesting characters. We have Gia, who is newly married into a hasty marriage to Garrett. Her best friend, Abby, tried to stop Gia from this marriage but to no avail. This story goes back and forth between Gia’s manuscript (what she started writing while in her marriage to Garrett), and Abby’s present and past day recollections.

Gia and Garrett lived in her family mansion in Greece to renovate it for its near future sale due to Gia losing some of her family fortune when her father passed away. They meet some new friends while out having dinner, and invite these new friends, Emelia and Timeo to come stay with them. That’s when things start to go downhill for Gia. Gia starts to question everyone around her, even her own husband. Is there anyone out there that she can trust?

Abby, on the other hand is worried about Gia when she doesn’t show up for their planned vacation together. Can Abby make it to Greece in time to find out what’s wrong? And are things what they appear to be?

While this story started off super strong, it unfortunately lost its way somewhere past the halfway mark. We are left to assume to know what happened towards the end, but for me I would have liked this story to be wrapped up in a nice pretty red bow. I am left with way more questions than answers, and rather unsatisfied with the ending. I also started off liking Gia and Abby pretty strongly, but by the end I didn’t care much for either one of them (although I definitely liked one more than the other).

This book might be a better read for those who don’t mind stories that take sudden twists and turns of action, and have an open ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine, and the author for an ARC of this book, which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: July 9, 2024.
Genre~ General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers]]> 3.63 2024
author: Katherine Wood
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2023/12/27
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
How could I turn down reading this book with a cover (and title) like that?! When I was offered a widget for this book I immediately accepted! The synopsis took my breath away. A rich heiress on a Greek island. Yes, please take me there! A longtime best friend coming to the rescue- what could possibly go wrong?

This story started off super intriguing with two very interesting characters. We have Gia, who is newly married into a hasty marriage to Garrett. Her best friend, Abby, tried to stop Gia from this marriage but to no avail. This story goes back and forth between Gia’s manuscript (what she started writing while in her marriage to Garrett), and Abby’s present and past day recollections.

Gia and Garrett lived in her family mansion in Greece to renovate it for its near future sale due to Gia losing some of her family fortune when her father passed away. They meet some new friends while out having dinner, and invite these new friends, Emelia and Timeo to come stay with them. That’s when things start to go downhill for Gia. Gia starts to question everyone around her, even her own husband. Is there anyone out there that she can trust?

Abby, on the other hand is worried about Gia when she doesn’t show up for their planned vacation together. Can Abby make it to Greece in time to find out what’s wrong? And are things what they appear to be?

While this story started off super strong, it unfortunately lost its way somewhere past the halfway mark. We are left to assume to know what happened towards the end, but for me I would have liked this story to be wrapped up in a nice pretty red bow. I am left with way more questions than answers, and rather unsatisfied with the ending. I also started off liking Gia and Abby pretty strongly, but by the end I didn’t care much for either one of them (although I definitely liked one more than the other).

This book might be a better read for those who don’t mind stories that take sudden twists and turns of action, and have an open ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine, and the author for an ARC of this book, which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: July 9, 2024.
Genre~ General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
]]> 176443330 The new thrilling novel from Megan Miranda, the instant New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls, The Last to Vanish, and The Only Survivors.

When Hazel Sharp, daughter of Mirror Lake’s longtime local detective, unexpectedly inherits her childhood home, she’s warily drawn back to the town—and people—she left behind almost a decade earlier. But Hazel’s not the only relic of the past to return: a drought has descended on the region, and as the water level in the lake drops, long-hidden secrets begin to emerge…including evidence that may help finally explain the mystery of her mother’s disappearance.]]> 368 Megan Miranda Rachel 3
In this story, Hazel Sharp comes back to Mirror Lake after her father dies. Hazel’s father, Perry Holt, has left her his house (her childhood home) in the will. Hazel’s two brother’s, Caden and Gage, are not too pleased with this arrangement especially since she has never gotten along well with Caden. Hazel also has a strained relationship with Caden’s wife Jamie, with whom she used to be best friends with.

A drought is also occurring during the same time that Hazel has returned back to Mirror Lake and her childhood home. During this drought, the lake waters are receding and things once hidden are being discovered in the lake. How long have the two cars been sitting at the bottom of the lake, and who did they belong to? Are the secrets from the past coming back to haunt Hazel? And why does it feel like the whole town of Mirror Lake wants her gone?

While the storyline was very good, there were still a few reasons why I didn’t enjoy this story as much as I thought I would. For one, this story was completely predictable from the very first chapter. This book had unnecessarily long chapters, and what seemed to be a rushed ending. I have enjoyed many reads from this author in the past, and will continue to read many more moving forward, but I can’t say that this one was my favorite.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon Element, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: April 9, 2024.
Genre~ General Fiction (Adult), Women’s Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers]]> 3.88 2024
author: Megan Miranda
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2023/12/20
date added: 2023/12/20
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I will say that I really liked this book, but I unfortunately didn’t love it. The premise was excellent, and I enjoyed the setting and backstory- but I think overall this was too much of a slow burn mystery/suspense for me.

In this story, Hazel Sharp comes back to Mirror Lake after her father dies. Hazel’s father, Perry Holt, has left her his house (her childhood home) in the will. Hazel’s two brother’s, Caden and Gage, are not too pleased with this arrangement especially since she has never gotten along well with Caden. Hazel also has a strained relationship with Caden’s wife Jamie, with whom she used to be best friends with.

A drought is also occurring during the same time that Hazel has returned back to Mirror Lake and her childhood home. During this drought, the lake waters are receding and things once hidden are being discovered in the lake. How long have the two cars been sitting at the bottom of the lake, and who did they belong to? Are the secrets from the past coming back to haunt Hazel? And why does it feel like the whole town of Mirror Lake wants her gone?

While the storyline was very good, there were still a few reasons why I didn’t enjoy this story as much as I thought I would. For one, this story was completely predictable from the very first chapter. This book had unnecessarily long chapters, and what seemed to be a rushed ending. I have enjoyed many reads from this author in the past, and will continue to read many more moving forward, but I can’t say that this one was my favorite.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon Element, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: April 9, 2024.
Genre~ General Fiction (Adult), Women’s Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers
]]> 176443178
From the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years and One Italian Summer comes the romance that will define a generation.

Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man, she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it—the exact amount of time they will be together. The papers told her she’d spend three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a name: Jake.

But as Jake and Daphne’s story unfolds, Daphne finds herself doubting the paper’s prediction, and wrestling with what it means to be both committed and truthful. Because Daphne knows things Jake doesn’t, information that—if he found out—would break his heart.

Told with her signature warmth and insight into matters of the heart, Rebecca Serle has finally set her sights on romantic love. The result is a gripping, emotional, passionate, and (yes) heartbreaking novel about what it means to be single, what it means to find love, and ultimately how we define each of them for ourselves. Expiration Dates is the one fans have been waiting for.]]> 272 Rebecca Serle 1982166827 Rachel 5 3.58 2024
author: Rebecca Serle
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2023/12/11
date added: 2023/12/11
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley, favorites
review:
Rebecca Serle has done it again! She has written another five-star, top favorite book of mine again. I previously read In Five Years by Serle, and to this day it is still one of my all time favorite books. Expiration Dates is coming in at a close second, definitely ending the year as one of my favorite books that I’ve read so far. This book kept me on an emotional roller coaster
]]> 127305817
It’s 1990 and seventeen-year-old Marley West is blazing into the river valley town of Mercury, Pennsylvania. A perpetual loner, she seeks a place at someone’s table and a family of her own. The first thing she sees when she arrives in town is three men standing on a rooftop. Their silhouettes blot out the sun.

The Joseph brothers become Marley’s whole world before she can blink. Soon, she is young wife to one, The One Who Got Away to another, and adopted mother to them all. As their own mother fades away and their roofing business crumbles under the weight of their unwieldy father’s inflated ego, Marley steps in to shepherd these unruly men. Years later, an eerie discovery in the church attic causes old wounds to resurface and suddenly the family’s survival hangs in the balance. With Marley as their light, the Joseph brothers must decide whether they can save the family they’ve always known―or whether together they can build something stronger in its place.]]> 336 Amy Jo Burns 1250908566 Rachel 4
This story starts off with a young teenage Marley moving into the town of Mercury, with her mother Ruth. Marley right away becomes involved with Baylor Joseph, which gets her a seat at the Joseph family table for dinner each night. The Joseph family consists of three brothers- Baylor, Waylon, and Shay. The Joseph parents are Mick and Elise. The Joseph men own their own roofing company, and Elise tries to uphold the family name.

As the story progresses, we learn of the many secrets the Joseph family is hiding. We see how Marley has made herself a part of the Joseph family as well, even though Elise may have never really liked her. Did Marley choose the wrong or right brother in the end? Was Marley more of a mother to Shay than Elise could ever be? And why do the Joseph men always stick up for each other?

This book was gritty and raw. The characters kept me captivated from the first page all the way through until the last page. If you enjoy highly developed, character-driven stories- then this is the book for you! I highly recommend this story, and I will be looking for other reads from this author going forward.

Many thanks to @CeladonBooks and ŷ������ for the ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date is: January 2, 2024.
#MercuryBook]]> 3.78 2024
author: Amy Jo Burns
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2023/11/18
date added: 2023/11/18
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, books-i-own, from-publisher, giveaways
review:
This book was deep. I had never read this author before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got was a complex study of a dysfunctional family dynamic, and a very character driven story. I was entranced in this story for some reason. I wanted to know what happened to each and every character. Why they acted the way they did, and how each person became that way. The author, Amy Jo Burns, delivered on all accounts.

This story starts off with a young teenage Marley moving into the town of Mercury, with her mother Ruth. Marley right away becomes involved with Baylor Joseph, which gets her a seat at the Joseph family table for dinner each night. The Joseph family consists of three brothers- Baylor, Waylon, and Shay. The Joseph parents are Mick and Elise. The Joseph men own their own roofing company, and Elise tries to uphold the family name.

As the story progresses, we learn of the many secrets the Joseph family is hiding. We see how Marley has made herself a part of the Joseph family as well, even though Elise may have never really liked her. Did Marley choose the wrong or right brother in the end? Was Marley more of a mother to Shay than Elise could ever be? And why do the Joseph men always stick up for each other?

This book was gritty and raw. The characters kept me captivated from the first page all the way through until the last page. If you enjoy highly developed, character-driven stories- then this is the book for you! I highly recommend this story, and I will be looking for other reads from this author going forward.

Many thanks to @CeladonBooks and ŷ������ for the ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date is: January 2, 2024.
#MercuryBook
]]> 65646968
A lighthearted whodunnit about a grandmother-mother-daughter trio of amateur sleuths. Gilmore Girls , but with murder.

High-powered��businesswoman��Lana Rubicon��has a lot to be��proud her keen intelligence, impeccable taste, and the��L.A. real estate empire she’s built.��But when she finds herself trapped 300 miles��north of the city,��convalescing��in a��sleepy �� coastal town with her adult daughter��Beth��and teenage granddaughter Jack, Lana is stuck��counting otters instead of square footage—and hoping that boredom won’t kill her before the cancer does.��

Then Jack—tiny in stature but fiercely independent—happens upon a dead body while kayaking. She��quickly��becomes a suspect in��the��homicide investigation, and the Rubicon women are thrown into chaos. Beth��thinks Lana should focus on recovery, but Lana has��a better idea. She’ll pull on her wig,��find the true murderer, protect her family, and prove she still has power. With Jack and��Beth’s��help, Lana uncovers a web of lies, family vendettas, and land disputes lurking beneath the��surface��of a community populated by folksy conservationists and wealthy ranchers. But as��their amateur snooping advances into ever-more dangerous territory,��the��headstrong Rubicon women��must learn to do the one thing they’ve always depend on each other.]]> 357 Nina Simon 0063315041 Rachel 4 3.52 2023
author: Nina Simon
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/10/05
date added: 2023/10/05
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, reese-witherspoon-book-club-pick
review:
This was just what the doctor ordered! After reading a few duds prior to this book, I was very happy with this lighthearted read about a crime solving mother-daughter-granddaughter trio. This was also Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club pick for September, 2023. So I must thank Reese’s Book Club for this great pick as well!
]]> 65213515 One girl murdered. Another one missing. And a medical examiner desperate to uncover the truth in the latest Black Harbor mystery by acclaimed author Hannah Morrissey.

On a bone-chilling October night, Medical Examiner Rowan Winthorp investigates the death of her daughter’s best friend. Hours later, the tragedy hits even closer to home when she makes a devastating discovery—her daughter, Chloe, is gone. But, not without a trace.

A morbid mosaic of clues forces Rowan and her husband to question how deeply they really knew their daughter. As they work closely to peel back the layers of this case, they begin to unearth disturbing details about Chloe and her secret transgressions…details that threaten to tear them apart.

Amidst the noise of navigating her newfound grief and reconciling the sins of her past, an undeniable fact rings true for Rowan: karma has finally come to collect.]]> 320 Hannah Morrissey 1250872340 Rachel 3
Our story starts off with Rowan Winthrop, a medical examiner, and her husband Axel, a homicide detective, leaving their daughter’s school play to investigate a murder. While investigating the murder of Madison Caldwell, who was friends with their daughter Chloe, they soon realize when they arrive home from the investigation that their own daughter Chloe is now missing. As Rowan and Axel begin their own investigation into the disappearance of their daughter (and work on the case ]]> 3.57 2023
author: Hannah Morrissey
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2023/09/23
date added: 2023/09/23
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Going into this book, I was aware that this is Book #3 in the Black Harbor Series. However, I have not read the first two books prior to this one. Would it have helped my rating or understanding of the book? Maybe. I do feel that this book is just fine as a standalone, and having no prior knowledge of the first two books didn’t affect how I related to any of the characters. This was also a typical crime fiction novel, that had a dark atmosphere and characters.

Our story starts off with Rowan Winthrop, a medical examiner, and her husband Axel, a homicide detective, leaving their daughter’s school play to investigate a murder. While investigating the murder of Madison Caldwell, who was friends with their daughter Chloe, they soon realize when they arrive home from the investigation that their own daughter Chloe is now missing. As Rowan and Axel begin their own investigation into the disappearance of their daughter (and work on the case
]]> 63094957
Rachel is a student working at a bookstore when she meets James, and it’s love at first sight. Effervescent and insistently heterosexual, James soon invites Rachel to be his roommate and the two begin a friendship that changes the course of both their lives forever. Together, they run riot through the streets of Cork city, trying to maintain a bohemian existence while the threat of the financial crash looms before them.

When Rachel falls in love with her married professor, Dr. Fred Byrne, James helps her devise a reading at their local bookstore, with the goal that she might seduce him afterwards. But Fred has other desires. So begins a series of secrets and compromises that intertwine the fates of James, Rachel, Fred, and Fred’s glamorous, well-connected, bourgeois wife. Aching with unrequited love, shot through with delicious, sparkling humor, The Rachel Incident is a triumph.]]> 304 Caroline O'Donoghue 0593535707 Rachel 5 4.06 2023
author: Caroline O'Donoghue
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2023/04/24
date added: 2023/09/23
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Did I desperately want to read this book based on the title alone? The answer is yes!! Therefore, my rating may or may not be a little biased.
]]> 65213277 New York Times bestselling author B. A. Paris captivated psychological thriller readers everywhere with Behind Closed Doors. Now she invites you into another home full of heart-pounding secrets, in The Guest.

Some secrets never leave.

Iris and Gabriel have just arrived home from a make-or-break holiday. But a shock awaits them. One of their closest friends, Laure, is in their house. The atmosphere quickly becomes tense as she oversteps again and sleeping in their bed, wearing Iris' clothes, even rearranging the furniture.

Laure has walked out on her husband—and their good friend—Pierre, over his confession of an affair and a secret child. Iris and Gabriel want to be supportive of their friends, but as Laure's mood becomes increasingly unpredictable, her presence takes its toll.

Iris and Gabriel's only respite comes in the form of a couple new to town. But with them comes their gardener, who has a checkered past. Soon, secrets from all their pasts will unravel, some more dangerous than they could have known.]]> 308 B.A. Paris 1250289424 Rachel 4
This story starts off with Laure being an uninvited houseguest at Iris and Gabriel’s home. Laure and her husband Pierre are taking some time away from each other, and Laure is very distraught and needy. What should have only been a three week stay turns into much longer (Umm- that’s when I would have put my foot down and told her to go, but whatever).

Also, during Laure’s stay with Iris and Gabriel, we find that Gabriel is going through some personal crisis of his own. There have been some deaths in his family and in the community, and he has had to take some time off to grieve.

I wasn’t sure where this story was going at first, and it sure did move in a bunch of directions! The Epilogue of this story also made my head spin as I did not see any of that coming!! This story played out very well. With that, I do recommend reading this as I think this has some nice twists that many readers will enjoy!
(3.5 stars rounded up)

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book, which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: February 20, 2024.]]> 3.53 2024
author: B.A. Paris
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2023/09/07
date added: 2023/09/07
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
This book ended up being a very pleasant surprise! When I first started reading this book, I will admit that I did have trouble keeping up with all the different names/characters. There aren’t that many characters, but there are three main couples that are dealt with. Two of the couples, Iris & Gabriel, and Laure & Pierre are our two main couples of focus. Then we have the new neighbors who moved into the village, Esme & Hugh (okay- got it?). Once I had everybody situated, this book was smooth sailing��

This story starts off with Laure being an uninvited houseguest at Iris and Gabriel’s home. Laure and her husband Pierre are taking some time away from each other, and Laure is very distraught and needy. What should have only been a three week stay turns into much longer (Umm- that’s when I would have put my foot down and told her to go, but whatever).

Also, during Laure’s stay with Iris and Gabriel, we find that Gabriel is going through some personal crisis of his own. There have been some deaths in his family and in the community, and he has had to take some time off to grieve.

I wasn’t sure where this story was going at first, and it sure did move in a bunch of directions! The Epilogue of this story also made my head spin as I did not see any of that coming!! This story played out very well. With that, I do recommend reading this as I think this has some nice twists that many readers will enjoy!
(3.5 stars rounded up)

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book, which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: February 20, 2024.
]]> 127280429 SISTERS, SECRETS, LOVE, AND MURDER... Sally Hepworth’s new novel has it all.

For as long as they can remember, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been told how lucky they are. As young girls they were rescued from family tragedies and raised by a loving foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate and given an elusive second chance at a happy family life.

But their childhood wasn’t the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. Miss Fairchild had rules. Miss Fairchild could be unpredictable. And Miss Fairchild was never, ever to be crossed. In a moment of desperation, the three broke away from Miss Fairchild and thought they were free. Even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. When a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the foster sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?

A thrilling page-turner of sisterhood, secrets, love, and murder by New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth.]]> 359 Sally Hepworth 125028452X Rachel 5 3.98 2024
author: Sally Hepworth
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2023/08/31
date added: 2023/08/31
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, favorites, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Another winner in the books for Sally Hepworth!!
]]> 127305853 From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah's The Women—at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.

Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie�� McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.

But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.

The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.]]> 471 Kristin Hannah 1250178630 Rachel 5
Our main character in this book is Frances (Frankie) McGrath. Frankie is very close with her brother Finley, who is in the Navy and goes off to Vietnam. Her father is so very proud of Finley, as all the men in the family are “war heroes��. Frankie decides she would like to be a hero too, just like all the other men in her family. As Frankie finishes her nursing degree, she recruits herself into the Army Nurse Corps and becomes Lieutenant Frances McGrath.

As Lieutenant Frances McGrath, she is stationed in Vietnam as a surgical nurse. Frankie has two bunk mates, Ethel and Barb, who help show her the ropes and get her through some extremely rough days. As a surgical nurse, Frankie is exposed to mass casualties on a daily basis. She witnesses loss of limbs, gunshot wounds, head traumas, infections, broken bones, etc�� Frankie also knows that she is the last person/girl that some of the soldiers will ever see. So Frankie takes photos with the soldiers, so their families know that their loved ones didn’t have to die alone.

Frankie returns home after after serving two years in Vietnam. Her parents are ashamed of her, local citizens spit on her, she can’t find suitable employment. And the worst part? No one believes that a woman was in Vietnam! Her rages of anger and grief are uncontrollable, and no one seems to care or understand her.

Frankie was told to just forget about everything that she witnessed, not think about it anymore, move forward with her life. But things weren’t so easy for Frankie.

I learned some interesting and rather disturbing facts about the Vietnam War in this book. I know that they are true and a part of history, but some things are still hard to process. I don’t know how anyone can live through anything like that. To all the men and women that served- I commend you and thank you for your service!

While this is a work of historical fiction, it is a book that I will not forget anytime soon. I highly recommend reading this book, and know that this book is moving into my favorite book of the year slot! While reading this book, I also recommend having tissues nearby- because trust me, you will need them. ]]> 4.58 2024
author: Kristin Hannah
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.58
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2023/08/28
date added: 2023/08/28
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, favorites, from-publisher, netgalley, historical-fiction
review:
Five Standing Ovation Stars ⭐️ for The Women by Kristin Hannah! This book took my breath away. I can honestly say that I learned more about the men and women in Vietnam from this book than any other historical book that I have read. I will admit that the Vietnam War ended in 1975, when I was only two years old (I know, I just gave my age away), so growing up, I never really paid attention. Now that I am older, history interests me, and learning about the women in Vietnam took it to a whole other dimension.

Our main character in this book is Frances (Frankie) McGrath. Frankie is very close with her brother Finley, who is in the Navy and goes off to Vietnam. Her father is so very proud of Finley, as all the men in the family are “war heroes��. Frankie decides she would like to be a hero too, just like all the other men in her family. As Frankie finishes her nursing degree, she recruits herself into the Army Nurse Corps and becomes Lieutenant Frances McGrath.

As Lieutenant Frances McGrath, she is stationed in Vietnam as a surgical nurse. Frankie has two bunk mates, Ethel and Barb, who help show her the ropes and get her through some extremely rough days. As a surgical nurse, Frankie is exposed to mass casualties on a daily basis. She witnesses loss of limbs, gunshot wounds, head traumas, infections, broken bones, etc�� Frankie also knows that she is the last person/girl that some of the soldiers will ever see. So Frankie takes photos with the soldiers, so their families know that their loved ones didn’t have to die alone.

Frankie returns home after after serving two years in Vietnam. Her parents are ashamed of her, local citizens spit on her, she can’t find suitable employment. And the worst part? No one believes that a woman was in Vietnam! Her rages of anger and grief are uncontrollable, and no one seems to care or understand her.

Frankie was told to just forget about everything that she witnessed, not think about it anymore, move forward with her life. But things weren’t so easy for Frankie.

I learned some interesting and rather disturbing facts about the Vietnam War in this book. I know that they are true and a part of history, but some things are still hard to process. I don’t know how anyone can live through anything like that. To all the men and women that served- I commend you and thank you for your service!

While this is a work of historical fiction, it is a book that I will not forget anytime soon. I highly recommend reading this book, and know that this book is moving into my favorite book of the year slot! While reading this book, I also recommend having tissues nearby- because trust me, you will need them.
]]> 123423832 Two women. An office filled with secrets. One terrible crime that can't be taken back.

Dawn Schiff is strange. At least, everyone thinks so at Vixed, the nutritional supplement company where Dawn works as an accountant. She never says the right thing. She has no friends. And she is always at her desk at precisely 8:45 a.m.

So when Dawn doesn't show up to the office one morning, her coworker Natalie Farrell—beautiful, popular, top sales rep five years running—is surprised. Then she receives an unsettling, anonymous phone call that changes everything��

It turns out Dawn wasn't just an awkward outsider—she was being targeted by someone close. And now Natalie is irrevocably tied to Dawn as she finds herself caught in a twisted game of cat and mouse that leaves her wondering: who's the real victim?

But one thing is incredibly clear: somebody hated Dawn Schiff. Enough to kill.

The Coworker is a tense, unputdownable thriller from New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden that explores the dark ways the past can echo through the present―with deadly consequences.]]> 362 Freida McFadden 172829620X Rachel 3
This story starts off with Dawn Schiff not showing up for work one day. This is very odd as Dawn is always very prompt, meticulous, and never misses work. Natalie, her coworker decides to go looking for her. Natalie seems very worried about Dawn, and insists that she was always kind to her while other people in the office were not. However, Dawn has emails that she wrote to a friend that prove otherwise��

I can see where McFadden was going with this book, as we are all tired of bullies. We are tired of bullies getting away with everything with no repercussions, while the those of us who get bullied continue to suffer. Where is the justice?!

This is book is divided into two parts. I really enjoyed Part I, but Part II- not as much. It did have some nice twists, but they just didn’t “wow�� me like I thought they would. All in all, this is a fun read- and I will be looking out for more from McFadden in the future!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own. Publication date: August 29, 2023.
Genre~ Mystery & Thrillers]]> 3.68 2023
author: Freida McFadden
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2023/08/21
date added: 2023/08/21
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I think it’s safe to say that I’m a McFadden fan. I enjoy her books, as they provide mindless entertainment (usually). This book however, seemed to tackle a couple of heavy topics along with the thrills. I’m usually left feeling overly excited after having just read one of her books, this one not so much. Maybe I resonated too much with our main character Dawn? Maybe I’m too familiar with characters like Natalie? Either way, I think I was hoping for something a little different��

This story starts off with Dawn Schiff not showing up for work one day. This is very odd as Dawn is always very prompt, meticulous, and never misses work. Natalie, her coworker decides to go looking for her. Natalie seems very worried about Dawn, and insists that she was always kind to her while other people in the office were not. However, Dawn has emails that she wrote to a friend that prove otherwise��

I can see where McFadden was going with this book, as we are all tired of bullies. We are tired of bullies getting away with everything with no repercussions, while the those of us who get bullied continue to suffer. Where is the justice?!

This is book is divided into two parts. I really enjoyed Part I, but Part II- not as much. It did have some nice twists, but they just didn’t “wow�� me like I thought they would. All in all, this is a fun read- and I will be looking out for more from McFadden in the future!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own. Publication date: August 29, 2023.
Genre~ Mystery & Thrillers
]]> 60891867
And so Margot finds herself living in an off-campus house with three other girls, Lucy, the ringleader; Sloane, the sarcastic one; and Nicole, the nice one, the three of them opposites but also deeply intertwined. It's a year that finds Margot finally coming out of the shell she's been in since the end of high school, when her best friend Eliza died three weeks after graduation. Margot and Lucy have become the closest of friends, but by the middle of their sophomore year, one of the fraternity boys from the house next door has been brutally murdered... and Lucy Sharpe is missing without a trace.

A tantalizing thriller about the nature of friendship and belonging, about loyalty, envy, and betrayal—another gripping novel from an author quickly becoming the gold standard in psychological suspense.]]> 371 Stacy Willingham 1250887933 Rachel 3
Our main character of this story is Margot. Margot is still mourning the death of her best friend Eliza, that happened three weeks after high school graduation. Margot is currently in her first year of college in an all girls dormitory when she is singled out by the mysterious and striking Lucy Sharpe. Margot cannot believe her luck when she is asked to move into a house with Lucy and her friends for the upcoming sophomore year.

The house that Margot moves into is owned by the fraternity brothers next door. Margot finally feels a sense of belonging and friendship with her new roommates in Lucy, Sloane, and Nicole. As their friendships develop and grow stronger, she tells them about her past friendship with Eliza and how she passed away. Margot also becomes frightened and concerned when Eliza’s previous neighbor, Levi moves in next door to the fraternity house to be pledged in.

There’s lots of games, truth telling, and accusations throughout this story. There’s also lots of references to Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, which makes sense because in reality we have a bunch of harmless, naive girls who are capable of both good and evil.

This is a good character study about belonging, and wanting to fit in- along with slow burn suspense. Although this wasn’t my favorite by Willingham, it’s only because it’s totally different from her first two books (and in my opinion, she set the bar too high). I don’t want to say too much more without giving the whole book away, but if you’ve loved Willingham in the past, give this book a try! As always, I will be waiting for her next book to come out!!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St, Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own. Publication date: January 16, 2024.
Genre~ Mystery & Thrillers, General Fiction (Adult).]]> 3.54 2024
author: Stacy Willingham
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2023/08/11
date added: 2023/08/11
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I definitely considered myself lucky to receive an advanced copy of this book to read! I have loved and rated both of Willingham’s previous novels five stars (and if you haven’t read them yet, please do yourself a favor and read them). However, I found this newest release to be a bit different from the previous two novels, a bit of a slow burn, and not very fast-paced. I also found it to be geared towards a younger audience, and that may be only because it dealt with a college setting.

Our main character of this story is Margot. Margot is still mourning the death of her best friend Eliza, that happened three weeks after high school graduation. Margot is currently in her first year of college in an all girls dormitory when she is singled out by the mysterious and striking Lucy Sharpe. Margot cannot believe her luck when she is asked to move into a house with Lucy and her friends for the upcoming sophomore year.

The house that Margot moves into is owned by the fraternity brothers next door. Margot finally feels a sense of belonging and friendship with her new roommates in Lucy, Sloane, and Nicole. As their friendships develop and grow stronger, she tells them about her past friendship with Eliza and how she passed away. Margot also becomes frightened and concerned when Eliza’s previous neighbor, Levi moves in next door to the fraternity house to be pledged in.

There’s lots of games, truth telling, and accusations throughout this story. There’s also lots of references to Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, which makes sense because in reality we have a bunch of harmless, naive girls who are capable of both good and evil.

This is a good character study about belonging, and wanting to fit in- along with slow burn suspense. Although this wasn’t my favorite by Willingham, it’s only because it’s totally different from her first two books (and in my opinion, she set the bar too high). I don’t want to say too much more without giving the whole book away, but if you’ve loved Willingham in the past, give this book a try! As always, I will be waiting for her next book to come out!!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St, Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own. Publication date: January 16, 2024.
Genre~ Mystery & Thrillers, General Fiction (Adult).
]]> 174670409 From the bestselling author of The Perfect Child comes a short thriller about a couple faced with the terrifying return of a girl they once called their own who threatens everything they hold dear.

Janie is the last person Hannah and Christopher Bauer want to see again.

But Janie’s moved back to Clarksville. She’s no longer the frail child Hannah and Christopher adopted over eleven years ago. The child who destroyed their lives. Now Janie is out of juvenile detention—a beautiful, confident young adult—and publicly promoting her new tell-all memoir.

At just eighteen, Janie has a violent and tragic story to share, brimming with grisly details. Details the public can’t get enough of…and that the Bauers can’t bear to relive. Janie has taken a new name and claims to have reformed her sociopathic ways. She’s ready to make amends. But when the Bauers refuse to meet with her, she takes matters into her own hands.

After the social worker formerly assigned to the case makes disturbing revelations about Janie’s calculated behavior, the Bauers brace for Janie’s next move, determined to protect their family—at any cost.]]> 82 Lucinda Berry 1662516681 Rachel 4
In this short little story, we learn of Janie’s release from juvenile detention/rehabilitation after several years. Janie is now 18 years old, and claims she has changed her evil ways from childhood. She has even gone so fas as to change her name to Hope.

Hannah and Christopher Bauer are Janie’s (Hope’s) previous adoptive parents. Hannah is very worried about Janie’s release back onto the streets, while Christopher has a bit of a soft spot for Janie. Hannah knows that people don’t change- especially people like Janie, after all that she did to their family. Can and will Hannah stop Janie before she destroys her family once again?

This was my first time reading anything by Lucinda Berry, and in just these few short pages she fully grabbed my attention. I am so curious and cannot wait to read “The Perfect Child�� now (although I think it’s going to be quite disturbing). This was a fantastic, quick read that I highly recommend!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own. Publication date: August 15, 2023.
Genre~ Novellas & Short Stories, General Fiction (Adult), and Mystery & Thrillers]]> 3.54 2023
author: Lucinda Berry
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/08/05
date added: 2023/08/05
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
This was an intense little read! “A Welcome Reunion�� is a novella that you will fly through easily in one sitting. And for those of you like me who didn’t know, this novella is also the sequel to Berry’s “The Perfect Child��, which I plan on reading immediately after this!

In this short little story, we learn of Janie’s release from juvenile detention/rehabilitation after several years. Janie is now 18 years old, and claims she has changed her evil ways from childhood. She has even gone so fas as to change her name to Hope.

Hannah and Christopher Bauer are Janie’s (Hope’s) previous adoptive parents. Hannah is very worried about Janie’s release back onto the streets, while Christopher has a bit of a soft spot for Janie. Hannah knows that people don’t change- especially people like Janie, after all that she did to their family. Can and will Hannah stop Janie before she destroys her family once again?

This was my first time reading anything by Lucinda Berry, and in just these few short pages she fully grabbed my attention. I am so curious and cannot wait to read “The Perfect Child�� now (although I think it’s going to be quite disturbing). This was a fantastic, quick read that I highly recommend!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own. Publication date: August 15, 2023.
Genre~ Novellas & Short Stories, General Fiction (Adult), and Mystery & Thrillers
]]> 127305890
On a brisk fall night in a New York apartment, 35-year-old Billie West hears terrified screams. It's her lifelong best friend Cassie Barnwell, one floor above, and she's just realized her infant daughter has gone missing. Billie is shaken as she looks down into her own arms to see the baby, remembering—with a jolt of fear—that she is responsible for the kidnapping that has instantly shattered Cassie’s world.

So begins the story of Billie and Cassie's friendship--both in recent weeks, and since they met twenty-three years ago, in their small Hudson Valley hometown the summer before seventh grade. Once fiercely bonded by their secrets, including a traumatic, unspeakable incident in high school, Cassie and Billie have drifted apart in adulthood, no longer the inseparable pair they used to be. Cassie is married to a wealthy man, has recently become a mother, and is building a following as a fashion and lifestyle influencer. She is desperate to leave her past behind--including Billie, who is single and childless, and no longer fits into her world. Hurt and rejected by Cassie’s new priorities, Billie will do anything to restore their friendship, even as she hides the truth about what really happened the night the baby was taken.

Told in alternating perspectives in Lovering’s signature suspenseful style, Bye Baby confronts the myriad ways friendships change and evolve over time, the lingering echoes of childhood trauma, and the impact of women’s choices on their lifelong relationships.]]> 352 Carola Lovering 125028936X Rachel 4
In “Bye, Baby��, we have the main characters of Cassie and Billie. Growing up Cassie and Billie were best friends and had each other’s backs no matter what. Although, through flashbacks and the alternating POV’s between the two women, we can see that Billie was always the more loyal, loving friend. While Cassie was always the superficial, self-centered friend that only worried about herself and put her needs before anyone else. To say that I wasn’t a fan of Cassie is putting it mildly. I found her quite detestable, and my heart broke for Billie throughout this whole book.

Billie didn’t have the best life growing up. Billie’s only family was her mother, who unfortunately developed early onset dementia and wed the neighborhood drunk. Billie always wanted someone on her side, to stick with her, and she thought she had that person in Cassie- but of course Cassie moved on to bigger and better things.

Yes, Billie made a horrible decision in this book. But even so, I still felt for her because her feelings were so hurt and she was so devastated. Did Cassie deserve what happened to her? Maybe.
Anyways, this was a very interesting book about friendships, feeling left out, loneliness, and even grieving (because that does happen when our friends exclude us).
I was going to go with three stars, but bumped it up to four because the more I thought about this book, the more I liked it and resonated with Billie’s character.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own. Publication date: March 5, 2024.
Genre~ Women’s Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers]]> 3.70 2024
author: Carola Lovering
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2023/08/03
date added: 2023/08/03
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I’m having a hard time coming up with a proper review for this book. I really enjoyed the writing- as Carola Lovering is a new author for me, and the storyline was somewhat relatable (in the friendship aspect). However, I’m not sure where to begin without giving this whole book away.

In “Bye, Baby��, we have the main characters of Cassie and Billie. Growing up Cassie and Billie were best friends and had each other’s backs no matter what. Although, through flashbacks and the alternating POV’s between the two women, we can see that Billie was always the more loyal, loving friend. While Cassie was always the superficial, self-centered friend that only worried about herself and put her needs before anyone else. To say that I wasn’t a fan of Cassie is putting it mildly. I found her quite detestable, and my heart broke for Billie throughout this whole book.

Billie didn’t have the best life growing up. Billie’s only family was her mother, who unfortunately developed early onset dementia and wed the neighborhood drunk. Billie always wanted someone on her side, to stick with her, and she thought she had that person in Cassie- but of course Cassie moved on to bigger and better things.

Yes, Billie made a horrible decision in this book. But even so, I still felt for her because her feelings were so hurt and she was so devastated. Did Cassie deserve what happened to her? Maybe.
Anyways, this was a very interesting book about friendships, feeling left out, loneliness, and even grieving (because that does happen when our friends exclude us).
I was going to go with three stars, but bumped it up to four because the more I thought about this book, the more I liked it and resonated with Billie’s character.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own. Publication date: March 5, 2024.
Genre~ Women’s Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers
]]> 62059043
Breakfast : Breads : Soups : Sandwiches : Childhood Comforts : Main Dishes : Deserts : Beverages : Special Chef Favorites : And much more! Also included is helpful information about the cooking utensils you will need to prepare the dishes, how to make ingredient substitutions, and time-honored cooking tips. Author Kim Wilcox is the owner of the popular family-owned restaurant It's All So Yummy in Knoxville, Tennessee. She is the author of The Great Book of Grilled Cheese and her recipes have also appeared in the wildly popular The Ultimate Spam (R) Cookbook . Make delicious, comforting, warm recipes the whole family will love, with Comfort Food Essentials !]]> 160 Kim Wilcox 1497103207 Rachel 4
Well, now that I am starving and want to try Every. Single. Item featured in this cookbook, I will say that this is my type of cookbook. What first grabbed my attention was the title. Did someone say comfort food? Yep, count me in! Secondly, this cookbook had simple recipes with ingredients that I have actually heard of and have most on hand (thank God I don’t have to go to France or specialty markets just to make a dinner). Also, each recipe had a mouth watering picture next to it so I could visualize my next meal. ]]> 4.27
author: Kim Wilcox
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.27
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2023/07/30
date added: 2023/07/30
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley, cookbooks
review:
WARNING ⚠️ Do not read Comfort Food Essentials on an empty stomach!

Well, now that I am starving and want to try Every. Single. Item featured in this cookbook, I will say that this is my type of cookbook. What first grabbed my attention was the title. Did someone say comfort food? Yep, count me in! Secondly, this cookbook had simple recipes with ingredients that I have actually heard of and have most on hand (thank God I don’t have to go to France or specialty markets just to make a dinner). Also, each recipe had a mouth watering picture next to it so I could visualize my next meal.
]]> 171180759
I’ve never met my father. It was always just me and Mom, so when she died, I was completely alone. But today, years since I first mailed my DNA to Family Ties, I finally have a match. They’ve found my biological father.

When I meet Robert , he’s warm, dependable, sturdy. I’m desperate for him to like me. I want to be part of his perfect, high-flying family more than anything.

Except, I’m not so sure they are perfect. Every day, strange things go wrong in the Thompsons�� grand Lake Tahoe house. A family photo is found burning. Robert’s car is tampered with. My mother’s necklace goes missing.

Though that’s nothing compared to the horror of finding the huge family portrait violently slashed in its ornate gold frame�� But someone is trying to blame me for everything—all eyes are on me. I can’t run now.

And then I receive an email from Family Ties that makes my blood run cold.

Robert Thompson is not my father.

Now I’m trapped in a house full of strangers, with no idea who I can trust. And I’m terrified my life is in grave danger…]]> 412 Ellery A. Kane 1837904928 Rachel 4 3.79 2023
author: Ellery A. Kane
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/07/23
date added: 2023/07/23
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Confession time�� After reading the fantastic synopsis for this book, and then seeing the author’s name- I immediately requested this book from NetGalley. However, I thought this was written by Ellery Lloyd (I was confused for a moment with the familiar name
]]> 75495037 A social media influencer with a secret past buys a murder house to renovate, but finds more than she bargained for behind the peeling wallpaper in this gothic psychological debut.

Sarah Slade is starting over. As the new owner of the infamous Black Wood House—the scene of a grisly murder-suicide—she’s determined that the fixer-upper will help reach a new audience on her successful lifestyle blog, and distract her from her failing marriage.

But as Sarah paints over the house’s horrifying past, she knows better than anyone that a new façade can’t conceal every secret. Then the builders start acting erratically and experiencing bizarre accidents—and Sarah knows there’s only so long she can continue to sleep in the bedroom with the bloodstained floor and suffer the mysterious footsteps she hears from the attic.

When menacing notes start appearing everywhere, Sarah becomes convinced that someone or something is out to kill her—her husband, her neighbors, maybe even the house itself. The more she remodels Black Wood House, the angrier it seems to become.

With every passing moment, Sarah’s life spirals further out of control—and with it, her sense of reality. Though she desperately clings to the lies she’s crafted to conceal her own secrets, Sarah Slade must wonder . . . was it all worth it? Or will this house be her final unraveling?]]> 288 Lisa M. Matlin 0593599950 Rachel 4
Sarah Slade and her husband Joe Cosgrove buy the murder house. Sarah is secretly hoping that while they start making repairs on the house, this time together will hopefully repair their marriage. Joe has become very distant, and he prefers to sleep on the couch rather than with her. How come Joe doesn’t appreciate everything that she’s done for him? While Sarah works during the day as a qualified therapist, Joe bartends at night and he often doesn’t even come home. While Sarah is alone at night, strange things start to occur. Noises in the attic, she starts to become ill, and strange occurrences keep happening.

Sarah has never felt more alone in this murder house, and the town of Beacon for which it sits. All the neighbors and townsfolk are close knit and stick together. The people from Beacon can hardly believe that anyone would even buy that house (which is called Black Wood), let alone live in it. Sarah eventually becomes close with her coworker, Emily. Sarah has never had a real friendship, and she’s hoping that she can trust Emily.

Don’t let the pretty cover of this book fool you, because this book is dark and twisted! There were many twists and turns in this book. And you wonder is Sarah just as ugly as the 40 year old murder house?

I definitely recommend this book, as it was a fast read that kept me turning the pages fast enough. There are some loose ends that I would like answers to, therefore 3.5 stars rounded up.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Publication date September 26, 2023.
Genre- Mystery & Thrillers, General Fiction]]> 3.45 2023
author: Lisa M. Matlin
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.45
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/06/10
date added: 2023/07/07
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Would you buy a known murder house? A house where a vicious murder-suicide took place? A house that has sat vacant for 40 years because nothing but darkness and death vibes surround it? Well, our main character Sarah Slade bought this house. Sarah is not superstitious, and the price was right! Sarah knows she can renovate the house and make a nice profit, all while promoting the renovations/updates on her highly popular social media page.

Sarah Slade and her husband Joe Cosgrove buy the murder house. Sarah is secretly hoping that while they start making repairs on the house, this time together will hopefully repair their marriage. Joe has become very distant, and he prefers to sleep on the couch rather than with her. How come Joe doesn’t appreciate everything that she’s done for him? While Sarah works during the day as a qualified therapist, Joe bartends at night and he often doesn’t even come home. While Sarah is alone at night, strange things start to occur. Noises in the attic, she starts to become ill, and strange occurrences keep happening.

Sarah has never felt more alone in this murder house, and the town of Beacon for which it sits. All the neighbors and townsfolk are close knit and stick together. The people from Beacon can hardly believe that anyone would even buy that house (which is called Black Wood), let alone live in it. Sarah eventually becomes close with her coworker, Emily. Sarah has never had a real friendship, and she’s hoping that she can trust Emily.

Don’t let the pretty cover of this book fool you, because this book is dark and twisted! There were many twists and turns in this book. And you wonder is Sarah just as ugly as the 40 year old murder house?

I definitely recommend this book, as it was a fast read that kept me turning the pages fast enough. There are some loose ends that I would like answers to, therefore 3.5 stars rounded up.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Publication date September 26, 2023.
Genre- Mystery & Thrillers, General Fiction
]]> 122494784 Instead of presents this Christmas, one true crime podcaster is opening up a cold case��

When true crime podcaster Harley Granger drifts into Madeline Martin's bookshop days before Christmas, he seems intent on digging up a past that Madeline would much rather forget.

Granger's work has earned him fame and wealth - and some serious criticism for his various unethical practices. Granger also has a lot of questions about the night Madeline was left for dead, the only surviving victim of killer Evan Handy.

Handy, who also murdered Madeline's best friend and is suspected in the disappearance of two local sisters, has been in jail for a decade. Since then, though, three other young women have gone missing in similar circumstances. Is the true predator still out there somewhere?

As Christmas approaches and a blizzard bears down, Madeline must confront the past to answer questions that have haunted her since that day. Is the truth more terrible than she ever imagined?

Coupling a picturesque, cosy setting with a deeply unsettling and suspenseful plot, Christmas Presents is a chilling seasonal tale that can be enjoyed all year long.]]> 260 Lisa Unger 1613164513 Rachel 4 It’s Christmas in July!! 3.56 2023
author: Lisa Unger
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/07/07
date added: 2023/07/07
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
It’s Christmas in July!!
]]> 126919284
But to everyone’s surprise, Cam wants little to do with the house or the money—and even less to do with the surviving McTavishes. Instead, he rejects his inheritance, settling into a normal life as an English teacher in Colorado and marrying Jules, a woman just as eager to escape her own messy past.

Ten years later, Camden is a McTavish in name only, but a summons in the wake of his uncle’s death brings him and Jules back into the family fold at Ashby House. Its views are just as stunning as ever, its rooms just as elegant, but coming home reminds Cam why he was so quick to leave in the first place.

Jules, however, has other ideas, and the more she learns about Cam’s estranged family—and the twisted secrets they keep—the more determined she is for her husband to claim everything Ruby once intended for him to have.

But Ruby’s plans were always more complicated than they appeared. As Ashby House tightens its grip on Jules and Camden, questions about the infamous heiress come to light. Was there any truth to the persistent rumors following her disappearance as a girl? What really happened to those four husbands, who all died under mysterious circumstances? And why did she adopt Cam in the first place? Soon, Jules and Cam realize that an inheritance can entail far more than what’s written in a will—and that the bonds of family stretch far beyond the grave.]]> 294 Rachel Hawkins 1250280036 Rachel 5
This story is about Ruby McTavish, a wealthy little girl who was lost in the woods near her home in North Carolina at only three years old. Ruby was found eight months later in another state and returned home. As Ruby grows up in her mansion known as the Ashby House, she often feels that some things about her aren’t quite right.

Ruby writes letters prior to her death at an elderly age, and through these letters we see what transpired during her years growing up and her four marriages. Ruby also had an adopted son named Camden, who is set to inherit all of the McTavish fortune. Camden wants nothing to do with the family money and he has stayed away from his cold and unkind family members for years. However, he gets notified by his cousin that he should come to Ashby House after the passing of his uncle, and Camden’s wife Jules thinks it would be a great idea to visit.

When Camden and Jules arrive at Ashby House, the fun really begins! This was a very dysfunctional family. I loved getting the different POV’s from Camden, Jules, and Ruby. And while getting all these different viewpoints, we can question what really makes a family?

I highly recommend this book! As I’ve mentioned before I read for entertainment and enjoyment - and that’s what this book gave me! This book also had short chapters (my favorite), which made for a quick read. Add this book to your list- you can thank me later! ]]> 3.80 2024
author: Rachel Hawkins
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2023/06/19
date added: 2023/07/01
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley, favorites
review:
Loved this book!! In fact, I can’t remember the last time I read a book so fast! I love a book that can keep me turning the pages, and not worry about anything else but the book! This storyline was fast-paced, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!

This story is about Ruby McTavish, a wealthy little girl who was lost in the woods near her home in North Carolina at only three years old. Ruby was found eight months later in another state and returned home. As Ruby grows up in her mansion known as the Ashby House, she often feels that some things about her aren’t quite right.

Ruby writes letters prior to her death at an elderly age, and through these letters we see what transpired during her years growing up and her four marriages. Ruby also had an adopted son named Camden, who is set to inherit all of the McTavish fortune. Camden wants nothing to do with the family money and he has stayed away from his cold and unkind family members for years. However, he gets notified by his cousin that he should come to Ashby House after the passing of his uncle, and Camden’s wife Jules thinks it would be a great idea to visit.

When Camden and Jules arrive at Ashby House, the fun really begins! This was a very dysfunctional family. I loved getting the different POV’s from Camden, Jules, and Ruby. And while getting all these different viewpoints, we can question what really makes a family?

I highly recommend this book! As I’ve mentioned before I read for entertainment and enjoyment - and that’s what this book gave me! This book also had short chapters (my favorite), which made for a quick read. Add this book to your list- you can thank me later!
]]> 62926989
I took a bone-deep breath as we drove away from my state, my city, my street, and my house, escaping my life and leaving behind all my broken parts.

With a��successful��speaking career putting her on the road 250 days a year, a slew of prestigious awards for her activism, the hugely successful book I Am That Girl , and a happy marriage, Alexis Jones was living a��seemingly��charmed life. But��the principles of self-care, setting boundaries, and eschewing perfectionism that she espoused in her talks didn’t seem to translate into her own life; she still never seemed to feel “enough�� inside.��Then, in a matter of months, things started to fall apart��on the outside, She discovered that the man she’d always called dad was not her biological father, she had a devastating miscarriage, and the pandemic sidelined her travel schedule—and paycheck. A self-described “productivity junkie,�� she was forced to slow down for the first time in her life.

Hoping��that time away would be a good distraction from all the chaos and heartbreak, Alexis rented an RV and set out for the open road to explore the rugged American west with her husband and their best friend.��For her, the trip was both healing and disruptive. In the presence of nature’s majesty, she re-learned the art of sitting still and surrendering to the unknowable; along treacherous hiking trails she wrestled with her self-doubt and fear of failure; and through profound conversations with friends old and new, she reconnected to the power of sisterhood and began to rebelliously reconsider her priorities and ambitions—for herself and whatever shape her family might take going forward.
��
A soulful memoir of seeking and finding, Joy Hunter traces��Alexis’s quest to reclaim her voice and find wholeness within. Along the way she discovers that there is always purpose to our pain and that happiness is not something that can simply be checked off a list. Joy, it turns out, is not a destination; it’s a way of life.]]> 256 Alexis Jones 0593578066 Rachel 3
Another thing that bothered me through this book was during dialogue sentences between her and her husband, everything ended with babe or baby. If I read the word babe or baby one more time, I was seriously going to lose it! ]]> 3.87
author: Alexis Jones
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.87
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/06/23
date added: 2023/06/23
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, memoir
review:
I usually enjoy memoirs, especially if they’re inspiring and joyful. This book just felt like it was missing something for me. Alexis Jones wrote this book after a traumatic event and heartbreak (which I was even shedding tears on a few of the pages), but the rest of this book just seems to be a reminder of how privileged she is. She’s had everything she’s ever wanted in life, including a family that loves her dearly - which some people would die just to have a family, or any other type of support. So unfortunately, I started to lose interest in this book about halfway through.

Another thing that bothered me through this book was during dialogue sentences between her and her husband, everything ended with babe or baby. If I read the word babe or baby one more time, I was seriously going to lose it!
]]> 62919906
Ken and Abby Gardner lost their mother when they were small and they have been haunted by her absence ever since. Their father, Adam, a brilliant oceanographer, raised them mostly on his own in his remote home on Cape Cod, where the attachment between Ken and Abby deepened into something complicated—and as adults their relationship is strained. Now, years later, the siblings�� lives are still deeply entwined. Ken is a successful businessman with political ambitions and a picture-perfect family and Abby is a talented visual artist who depends on her brother’s goodwill, in part because he owns the studio where she lives and works.

As the novel opens, Adam is approaching his seventieth birthday, staring down his mortality and fading relevance. He has always managed his bipolar disorder with medication, but he’s determined to make one last scientific breakthrough and so he has secretly stopped taking his pills, which he knows will infuriate his children. Meanwhile, Abby and Ken are both harboring secrets of their own, and there is a new person on the periphery of the family—Steph, who doesn’t make her connection known. As Adam grows more attuned to the frequencies of the deep sea and less so to the people around him, Ken and Abby each plan the elaborate gifts they will present to their father on his birthday, jostling for primacy in this small family unit.

Set in the fraught summer of 2016, and drawing on the biblical tale of Cain and Abel, Little Monsters is an absorbing, sharply observed family story by a writer who knows Cape Cod inside and out—its Edenic lushness and its snakes.]]> 320 Adrienne Brodeur 1982198109 Rachel 3
This will be a brief review, as I don’t have much to say. In fact, I kept waiting and waiting for something major to happen, but it never did. We have the story of Abby and Ken, who are brother and sister. Abby and Ken were raised by their single father, Adam. Adam is bipolar, and he likes to quit taking his medications from time to time. Therefore, Abby and Ken are pretty much trained to know when he is having a manic episode. Abby and Ken’s mother died while giving birth to Abby, so there seems to always have been some resentment and competition between the two of them. Their once very close relationship has since pushed them apart.

This book is told in alternating chapters between the characters. In this way we learn a bit about their lives, and what they are currently going through. We also get introduced to Steph, and we learn of her upbringing and family dynamics as well. We have many political references throughout the book (as this book is based during the 2016 election year), and I felt that they were quite unnecessary. The only chapters that I looked forward to were that of Adam’s (the father), as that was the only time I would get a chuckle or two.

I didn’t get much from this story, as I struggled through it and didn’t feel any connection towards the characters. In the end, 2.5 stars- rounded up.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Publication date: June 27, 2023.
Genre- Women’s Fiction, General Fiction (Adult).]]> 3.63 2023
author: Adrienne Brodeur
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2023/05/27
date added: 2023/05/28
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I was very excited to read this book, as I loved the author’s memoir “Wild Game�� (which I gave five stars to). The synopsis of this book sounded interesting as I love reading about family dysfunction. The cover of the book is also beautiful. However, I’m left very underwhelmed after having just finished reading this.

This will be a brief review, as I don’t have much to say. In fact, I kept waiting and waiting for something major to happen, but it never did. We have the story of Abby and Ken, who are brother and sister. Abby and Ken were raised by their single father, Adam. Adam is bipolar, and he likes to quit taking his medications from time to time. Therefore, Abby and Ken are pretty much trained to know when he is having a manic episode. Abby and Ken’s mother died while giving birth to Abby, so there seems to always have been some resentment and competition between the two of them. Their once very close relationship has since pushed them apart.

This book is told in alternating chapters between the characters. In this way we learn a bit about their lives, and what they are currently going through. We also get introduced to Steph, and we learn of her upbringing and family dynamics as well. We have many political references throughout the book (as this book is based during the 2016 election year), and I felt that they were quite unnecessary. The only chapters that I looked forward to were that of Adam’s (the father), as that was the only time I would get a chuckle or two.

I didn’t get much from this story, as I struggled through it and didn’t feel any connection towards the characters. In the end, 2.5 stars- rounded up.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Publication date: June 27, 2023.
Genre- Women’s Fiction, General Fiction (Adult).
]]> 62292419 For fans of Lucy Foley and Liane Moriarty, She Started It is a hot, twisty summer debut thriller about a group of young women whose Caribbean bachelorette party takes a sinister turn. It’s Lord of the Flies meets And Then There Were None...but with Instagram and too much prosecco.

The party of a lifetime is nothing like what they expected...

Annabel, Esther, Tanya, and Chloe are best friends—or were, as children. Despite drifting apart in adulthood, shared secrets have kept them bonded for better or worse, even as their childhood dreams haven’t quite turned out as they’d hoped. Then one day they receive a wholly unexpected—but not entirely unwelcome—invitation from another old friend. Poppy Greer has invited them all to her extravagant bachelorette party: a first-class plane ticket to three days of white sand, cocktails, and relaxation on a luxe private island in the Bahamas.

None of them has spoken to Poppy in years. But Poppy’s Instagram pics shows that the girl they used to consider the weakest link in their group has definitely made good—and made money. Curiosity gets the better of them. Besides, who can turn down a posh all-expenses-paid vacation on a Caribbean island?

The first-class flight and the island’s accommodations are just as opulent as expected...even if the scenic island proves more remote than they’d anticipated. Quite remote, in fact, with no cell service, and no other guests. The women quickly discover they’ve underestimated Poppy, and each other. As their darkest secrets are revealed, the tropical adventure morphs into a terrifying nightmare.

Endlessly twisty, sharply observant, and deliciously catty, She Started It is sure to shock readers until the very end.]]> 352 Sian Gilbert 0063286297 Rachel 4
She Started It, is about a group of four women who claim to be best friends who have been invited to a private hen (bachelorette) party. The hen party is that of Poppy Greer, which they haven’t even seen her in 10 years. These women don’t care as it’s an all expense paid trip to the luxurious private island ]]> 3.56 2023
author: Sian Gilbert
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/05/15
date added: 2023/05/15
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I always love it when someone can finish what has been started, and this book raced to the finish line brilliantly! This was an intense, thrilling debut!

She Started It, is about a group of four women who claim to be best friends who have been invited to a private hen (bachelorette) party. The hen party is that of Poppy Greer, which they haven’t even seen her in 10 years. These women don’t care as it’s an all expense paid trip to the luxurious private island
]]> 72545226
Lauren delivers the harrowing report of her unusual relationship with a psychopath--but this is more than a deep dive into the actions of Samuel Little. Lauren's riveting and emotional accounts reveal the women who were lost to cold files, giving Little's victims a chance to have their stories heard for the first time.]]> 512 Jillian Lauren 1728267757 Rachel 4
Behold the Monster, is about serial killer Sam Little. Sam Little was behind bars when he met with the author, Jillian Lauren. It was with Jillian that Sam started confessing all his murders. Sam spoke with Jillian during their prison visits, and most often on their phone calls. Sam knew the phone calls were being recorded, but he still kept on talking. Sam Little often drew pictures of his victims while confessing to Jillian. Sam called Jillian his “best friend��. Jillian was even listed as next of kin for Sam Little, and she was the first person the prison called when he died of Covid-19 complications on December 30, 2020.

This book gives an overview of Sam Little’s victims. We get a clue as to what their last moments on earth were like. The author also interviewed family members of some of the victims, so that their memory could live on. We also hear from the four women who were able to escape and live through their nightmare with Sam Little.

Everything about Sam Little is disturbing! His birth into the world was disturbing. His upbringing was disturbing. His reuniting with his biological mother as an adult was especially disturbing! This book became extremely hard to read at times.

While creepy, I guess Sam was a bit smart on who he preyed upon. He preyed upon women who were on drugs, and who were most often prostitutes. He would ask them questions such as, “Do you have lots of family around? Are you close with your family?�� If he knew these women didn’t have anyone, then they were an easy target. He would lure these women into his car and strangle them for sexual pleasure. Most of these women were not missed by anyone. Those that were able to get away and live to tell about it- well, unfortunately no one believed them because they were drug addicted prostitutes.

Sam Little confessed to killing 93 women. The FBI has confirmed 60 cases. Therefore, Sam might be the “most prolific serial killer in American history of record.�� In any case, if you are a fan of true crime and especially that of serial killers, then I highly suggest reading this very detailed book about the life of Sam Little.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Publication date: July 18, 2023. (Genre- True Crime, Nonfiction)]]> 3.31 2021
author: Jillian Lauren
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.31
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2023/05/06
date added: 2023/05/07
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley, true-crime
review:
I’m not sure, but this book seems to have been previously published in 2020? This might be a revised addition with additional information, nonetheless it is still a very interesting, informative, and disturbing book to read. Any book that details the life of a serial killer is never an easy read.

Behold the Monster, is about serial killer Sam Little. Sam Little was behind bars when he met with the author, Jillian Lauren. It was with Jillian that Sam started confessing all his murders. Sam spoke with Jillian during their prison visits, and most often on their phone calls. Sam knew the phone calls were being recorded, but he still kept on talking. Sam Little often drew pictures of his victims while confessing to Jillian. Sam called Jillian his “best friend��. Jillian was even listed as next of kin for Sam Little, and she was the first person the prison called when he died of Covid-19 complications on December 30, 2020.

This book gives an overview of Sam Little’s victims. We get a clue as to what their last moments on earth were like. The author also interviewed family members of some of the victims, so that their memory could live on. We also hear from the four women who were able to escape and live through their nightmare with Sam Little.

Everything about Sam Little is disturbing! His birth into the world was disturbing. His upbringing was disturbing. His reuniting with his biological mother as an adult was especially disturbing! This book became extremely hard to read at times.

While creepy, I guess Sam was a bit smart on who he preyed upon. He preyed upon women who were on drugs, and who were most often prostitutes. He would ask them questions such as, “Do you have lots of family around? Are you close with your family?�� If he knew these women didn’t have anyone, then they were an easy target. He would lure these women into his car and strangle them for sexual pleasure. Most of these women were not missed by anyone. Those that were able to get away and live to tell about it- well, unfortunately no one believed them because they were drug addicted prostitutes.

Sam Little confessed to killing 93 women. The FBI has confirmed 60 cases. Therefore, Sam might be the “most prolific serial killer in American history of record.�� In any case, if you are a fan of true crime and especially that of serial killers, then I highly suggest reading this very detailed book about the life of Sam Little.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Publication date: July 18, 2023. (Genre- True Crime, Nonfiction)
]]> 60196684 One book. Nine readers. Ten changed lives. New York Times bestselling author Erica Bauermeister’s No Two Persons is “a gloriously original celebration of fiction, and the ways it deepens our lives.��

That was the beauty of books, wasn’t it? They took you places you didn’t know you needed to go��

Alice has always wanted to be a writer. Her talent is innate, but her stories remain safe and detached, until a devastating event breaks her heart open, and she creates a stunning debut novel. Her words, in turn, find their way to readers, from a teenager hiding her homelessness, to a free diver pushing himself beyond endurance, an artist furious at the world around her, a bookseller in search of love, a widower rent by grief. Each one is drawn into Alice’s novel; each one discovers something different that alters their perspective, and presents new pathways forward for their lives.

Together, their stories reveal how books can affect us in the most beautiful and unexpected of ways—and how we are all more closely connected to one another than we might think.]]> 314 Erica Bauermeister 1250284376 Rachel 5
What I loved about this unique story, is that it wasn’t necessarily a story from start to finish- but a story of ten different characters whose lives were all affected differently just by the writing and reading of one particular book called “Theo��.

We have ten characters, with one being Alice Wein, who is the writer of the book. We hear her story first, and from there her book gets written and the lands into the hands of Lara, Rowan, Miranda, Tyler, Nola, Kit, William, Juliet, and Madeline.

I loved reading about each of these characters and was so emotionally connected to each one. It amazes me the power that words can hold over people, especially in a book. Books touch each person so differently. Through this story we are able to see how one book was able to change just these few characters lives. It really makes you stop and think- especially when you are a book lover such as I am.

I also love the title of the book and the opening line that I used in this review. No Two Persons is fitting because no two persons ever read the same book. While I love this book and many others, there’s plenty of my book friends who probably won’t like this book as much as I do and they haven’t liked many others that I have liked and vice versa. This book was a true eye opener and I loved every page! I highly recommend reading this book!

I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this fantastic book that I had the pleasure of reading and providing an honest review.
Publication date: May 2, 2023

Book available today: 5/2/23 ]]> 4.02 2023
author: Erica Bauermeister
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2022/12/12
date added: 2023/05/02
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
“No two persons ever read the same book, or saw the same picture��. - The Writings of Madame Swetchine, 1860.

What I loved about this unique story, is that it wasn’t necessarily a story from start to finish- but a story of ten different characters whose lives were all affected differently just by the writing and reading of one particular book called “Theo��.

We have ten characters, with one being Alice Wein, who is the writer of the book. We hear her story first, and from there her book gets written and the lands into the hands of Lara, Rowan, Miranda, Tyler, Nola, Kit, William, Juliet, and Madeline.

I loved reading about each of these characters and was so emotionally connected to each one. It amazes me the power that words can hold over people, especially in a book. Books touch each person so differently. Through this story we are able to see how one book was able to change just these few characters lives. It really makes you stop and think- especially when you are a book lover such as I am.

I also love the title of the book and the opening line that I used in this review. No Two Persons is fitting because no two persons ever read the same book. While I love this book and many others, there’s plenty of my book friends who probably won’t like this book as much as I do and they haven’t liked many others that I have liked and vice versa. This book was a true eye opener and I loved every page! I highly recommend reading this book!

I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this fantastic book that I had the pleasure of reading and providing an honest review.
Publication date: May 2, 2023

Book available today: 5/2/23
]]> 61884937
Ruth Sterling thinks she knows her daughter. Catherine would never rebel, would never question anything about her mother's past or background. But when Ruth's desperate quest to keep her daughter by her side begins to reveal cracks in Ruth's carefully-constructed world, both mother and daughter begin a dance of deception.]]> 338 Sarah Pekkanen 1250283973 Rachel 3
Gone Tonight, tells us the story of the mother-daughter duo of Ruth and Catherine Sterling. Ruth gave birth to Catherine at seventeen years old, and they have been on the “run�� their whole lives. Ruth has switched jobs, apartments, schools- but why? Why can’t they just stay in one place and be happy? They also only have each other as they are estranged from the very few family members that they do have. Is Ruth Sterling really who she says she is? Is Ruth just an overprotective mother, or is there something more sinister involved? Catherine goes on a mission (finally after 24 years), throughout this story to find out what her mother has been hiding.

I really enjoyed the alternating POV’s between Ruth and Catherine. The chapters were nice and short, which in turn kept me turning the pages faster. However, while I enjoyed the story, I just wasn’t at the edge of my seat like I thought I would be. The twists and the outcome were rather predictable, and I didn’t find it that “thrilling��.

I still recommend reading this book as the storyline was interesting and different from the common mystery/thrillers out there. It was also a fairly fast read, which was a bonus.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Publication date: August 1, 2023. (Mystery & Thriller)]]> 3.78 2023
author: Sarah Pekkanen
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2023/04/20
date added: 2023/04/20
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
For starters, I was super excited to get an early copy of this book since I have enjoyed and read every book that the author, Sarah Pekkanen has co-written with Greer Hendricks. This is the first book that I saw with just Pekkanen alone, so I was very curious.

Gone Tonight, tells us the story of the mother-daughter duo of Ruth and Catherine Sterling. Ruth gave birth to Catherine at seventeen years old, and they have been on the “run�� their whole lives. Ruth has switched jobs, apartments, schools- but why? Why can’t they just stay in one place and be happy? They also only have each other as they are estranged from the very few family members that they do have. Is Ruth Sterling really who she says she is? Is Ruth just an overprotective mother, or is there something more sinister involved? Catherine goes on a mission (finally after 24 years), throughout this story to find out what her mother has been hiding.

I really enjoyed the alternating POV’s between Ruth and Catherine. The chapters were nice and short, which in turn kept me turning the pages faster. However, while I enjoyed the story, I just wasn’t at the edge of my seat like I thought I would be. The twists and the outcome were rather predictable, and I didn’t find it that “thrilling��.

I still recommend reading this book as the storyline was interesting and different from the common mystery/thrillers out there. It was also a fairly fast read, which was a bonus.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Publication date: August 1, 2023. (Mystery & Thriller)
]]> 61885084
Isolated. Lonely. Tired. It's hard being The New Mother. Sometimes it's murder.

Nothing is simple about being a new mom alone in a new house, especially when your baby is collicky. Natalie Fanning loves her son unconditionally, but being a mother was not all she wanted to be.

Enter Paul, the neighbor.

Paul provides the lifeline she needs in what feels like the most desperate of times. When Paul is helping with Oliver, calmed by his reassuring, steady presence, Nat feels like she can finally rest.

But Paul wants something in return. It’s no coincidence that he has befriended Nat—she is the perfect pawn for his own plan. Will Nat wake up in time to see it?]]> 304 Nora Murphy 1250822440 Rachel 3
This book is broken down into Four Parts, and if I’m being honest I almost threw in the towel after Part I and II. Part I is basically a course on Breastfeeding 101. All we learned was how Natalie’s breasts were engorged, aching, and leaking. We also got pages upon pages of Natalie breastfeeding baby Oliver, and of Natalie using her breast pump to pump milk from her breasts. Now, I don’t have anything against breastfeeding, but I certainly didn’t need 100 pages of a thriller book going into detail about breastfeeding. Part II of this book also had more breastfeeding scenarios, but it also went into detail on how tired and stressed out she was because she never got any sleep due to the baby not sleeping (totally understandable). We also learn how Natalie is starting to resent her husband Tyler, thus she starts growing closer to her neighbor Paul. Paul is such a wonderful help to her with the baby, while her husband is not.

Now, Part III is where this book finally picked up the pace! We learn that a murder has taken place in the woods behind Natalie’s house ]]> 3.42 2023
author: Nora Murphy
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.42
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2023/04/02
date added: 2023/04/02
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
The New Mother starts off by Natalie giving birth to her baby boy, Oliver. Natalie is married to Tyler, and they will be bringing their baby home to their new larger house they just bought to start their new, larger family. Since they are new to the neighborhood, they haven’t met any of their neighbors yet. However, when Natalie takes the baby outside her neighbor Paul introduces himself. Paul is a stay at home dad, and he understands Natalie and everything that she is going through with the new baby and the many sleepless nights��

This book is broken down into Four Parts, and if I’m being honest I almost threw in the towel after Part I and II. Part I is basically a course on Breastfeeding 101. All we learned was how Natalie’s breasts were engorged, aching, and leaking. We also got pages upon pages of Natalie breastfeeding baby Oliver, and of Natalie using her breast pump to pump milk from her breasts. Now, I don’t have anything against breastfeeding, but I certainly didn’t need 100 pages of a thriller book going into detail about breastfeeding. Part II of this book also had more breastfeeding scenarios, but it also went into detail on how tired and stressed out she was because she never got any sleep due to the baby not sleeping (totally understandable). We also learn how Natalie is starting to resent her husband Tyler, thus she starts growing closer to her neighbor Paul. Paul is such a wonderful help to her with the baby, while her husband is not.

Now, Part III is where this book finally picked up the pace! We learn that a murder has taken place in the woods behind Natalie’s house
]]> 61897971
When Aidan’s wife dies, he and his thirteen-year-old daughter Cecilia are forced to move. Aidan has no choice but to bring Rachel along, introducing her to Cecilia as a “family friend�� who needs a place to stay. Aidan is betting on Rachel, after five years of captivity, being too brainwashed and fearful to attempt to escape. But Rachel is a fighter and survivor, and recognizes Cecilia might just be the lifeline she has waited for all these years. As Rachel tests the boundaries of her new living situation, she begins to form a tenuous connection with Cecilia. And when Emily, a local restaurant owner, develops a crush on the handsome widower, she finds herself drawn into Rachel and Cecilia’s orbit, coming dangerously close to discovering Aidan’s secret.

Told through the perspectives of Rachel, Cecilia, and Emily, The Quiet Tenant explores the psychological impact of Aidan’s crimes on the women in his life—and the bonds between those women that give them the strength to fight back. Both a searing thriller and an astute study of trauma, survival, and the dynamics of power, The Quiet Tenant is an electrifying debut thriller by a major talent.]]> 303 Clémence Michallon 0593534646 Rachel 3
However�� this was not the expected thriller/suspense novel that I thought I would be reading. ‘The Quiet Tenant�� read more like a women’s filled drama, with one good looking man at the center of all the drama. There was no mystery or suspense in this book whatsoever.

We have alternating chapters throughout this story, all told in the voices of “The girl in the shed��, Emily, and Cecilia. The girl in the shed has been held captive for five years, and is transported to live in the house with our serial killer and his daughter. Now, I know I would not know what I would do if I was in her shoes, but I kept thinking she should move quicker than what she does. Cecilia is the 13 year old daughter of the serial killer, and honestly there’s not much that goes on with her. Emily- now this is where the eye-rolls came in. Emily thought she was the serial killer’s girlfriend, so she basically decided to stalk him. She was a bit creepy in my opinion. I feel she made some strange decisions as a woman (things I would never think to do). And then we have our handsome blue-eyed serial killer, Aiden.

Even after having just finished this book, I’m still left with more questions than answers. Since we had this big “character study�� on Aiden and his women, I still don’t have any answers on why he killed the women that he did. I guess we are given little clues on his controlling behavior, but it was a very underwhelming conclusion.

If you are a fan of women’s fiction/drama, and not expecting a mystery/thriller (as this book is labeled), then you might enjoy this book more than I did. (2.5 stars rounded up)

Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, NetGalley, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Publication date: June 20, 2023.]]> 3.80 2023
author: Clémence Michallon
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2023/03/29
date added: 2023/03/29
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Let’s start off with the positive aspects about this book first. The cover is captivating (I loved it), I liked the title of this book, and the book description/synopsis was brilliant. I could not wait to read this book! A book about a serial killer, a trapped woman, and a daughter who has no idea what’s going on. Count me in!

However�� this was not the expected thriller/suspense novel that I thought I would be reading. ‘The Quiet Tenant�� read more like a women’s filled drama, with one good looking man at the center of all the drama. There was no mystery or suspense in this book whatsoever.

We have alternating chapters throughout this story, all told in the voices of “The girl in the shed��, Emily, and Cecilia. The girl in the shed has been held captive for five years, and is transported to live in the house with our serial killer and his daughter. Now, I know I would not know what I would do if I was in her shoes, but I kept thinking she should move quicker than what she does. Cecilia is the 13 year old daughter of the serial killer, and honestly there’s not much that goes on with her. Emily- now this is where the eye-rolls came in. Emily thought she was the serial killer’s girlfriend, so she basically decided to stalk him. She was a bit creepy in my opinion. I feel she made some strange decisions as a woman (things I would never think to do). And then we have our handsome blue-eyed serial killer, Aiden.

Even after having just finished this book, I’m still left with more questions than answers. Since we had this big “character study�� on Aiden and his women, I still don’t have any answers on why he killed the women that he did. I guess we are given little clues on his controlling behavior, but it was a very underwhelming conclusion.

If you are a fan of women’s fiction/drama, and not expecting a mystery/thriller (as this book is labeled), then you might enjoy this book more than I did. (2.5 stars rounded up)

Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, NetGalley, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Publication date: June 20, 2023.
]]> 61058004 A mother vanished. A father presumed guilty. There is no proof. There are no witnesses. For the children, there is only doubt. From the New York Times bestselling author of Defending Jacob. . . .

One afternoon in November 1975, ten-year-old Miranda Larkin comes home from school to find her house eerily quiet. Her mother is missing. Nothing else is out of place. There is no sign of struggle. Her mom's pocketbook remains in the front hall, in its usual spot.

So begins a mystery that will span a lifetime. What happened to Jane Larkin?

Investigators suspect Jane's husband. A criminal defense attorney, Dan Larkin would surely be an expert in outfoxing the police.

But no evidence is found linking him to a crime, and the case fades from the public's memory, a simmering, unresolved riddle. Jane's three children--Alex, Jeff, and Miranda--are left to be raised by the man who may have murdered their mother.

Two decades later, the remains of Jane Larkin are found. The investigation is awakened. The children, now grown, are forced to choose sides. With their father or against him? Guilty or innocent? And what happens if they are wrong?

A tale about family--family secrets and vengeance, but also family love--All That Is Mine I Carry With Me masterfully grapples with a primal question: When does loyalty reach its limit?]]> 320 William Landay 0345531841 Rachel 5
This story focuses on the disappearance of Jane Larkin. Jane Larkin disappeared on November 12, 1975. Jane was the wife to the pompous, arrogant criminal defense attorney, Dan Larkin. Jane was also the mother to three children, Alex, Jeff, and Miranda. We mainly read about Miranda and Jeff’s lives, and how the disappearance of their mother affected them. Miranda being the youngest and the only girl in the family, definitely took losing her mother the hardest. Throughout this story we don’t hear too much about the oldest son Alex, other than the fact that he turned out to be just like his father.

This story is broken down into four ‘Books��. In Book Two, we get to hear Jane’s story. Her story doesn’t come as a big surprise or shock, but the way her family has to deal with life after her is heartbreaking. I went through so many emotions while reading this. I also have to say that I can totally relate to Jeff Larkin. I think he ended up being the smartest one.

I do not want to go into too much more without giving the whole book away. I will say to read this book, and then think about it for a while (it will be hard not to think about it). With that being said, I also highly recommend reading this book because you will carry it with you for a long time after reading it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine-Bantam, and the author for the advanced copy of this wonderful book. Publication date: March 7, 2023.]]> 3.75 2023
author: William Landay
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2022/10/06
date added: 2023/03/07
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
All That Is Mine I Carry With Me ~ by William Landay, is certainly a book that I will carry with me for a long time. I cannot stop thinking about this book. In fact, I am sad and I am also angry. This book shows the unfairness of life. How some people thrive through misfortune, and how some people will suffer their whole lives.

This story focuses on the disappearance of Jane Larkin. Jane Larkin disappeared on November 12, 1975. Jane was the wife to the pompous, arrogant criminal defense attorney, Dan Larkin. Jane was also the mother to three children, Alex, Jeff, and Miranda. We mainly read about Miranda and Jeff’s lives, and how the disappearance of their mother affected them. Miranda being the youngest and the only girl in the family, definitely took losing her mother the hardest. Throughout this story we don’t hear too much about the oldest son Alex, other than the fact that he turned out to be just like his father.

This story is broken down into four ‘Books��. In Book Two, we get to hear Jane’s story. Her story doesn’t come as a big surprise or shock, but the way her family has to deal with life after her is heartbreaking. I went through so many emotions while reading this. I also have to say that I can totally relate to Jeff Larkin. I think he ended up being the smartest one.

I do not want to go into too much more without giving the whole book away. I will say to read this book, and then think about it for a while (it will be hard not to think about it). With that being said, I also highly recommend reading this book because you will carry it with you for a long time after reading it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine-Bantam, and the author for the advanced copy of this wonderful book. Publication date: March 7, 2023.
]]> 62823219 331 Jamie Beck 1542032423 Rachel 4
This book is about two sisters who are trying to manage their lives, and also trying to find their purpose. Kristin is a wife and mother who works very long hours. Kristin tries to take care of everyone and everything, which has her burning the candle at both ends. She’s used to being a perfectionist, but she can only handle so much before the stress takes a toll on her. She loves her sister Amy dearly, and even let her move in with her for a while- but did that cause her marriage troubles on top of everything else too?

Amy, however is dealing with a tragic loss and finds it hard to move on in life. Amy won a large lottery, but feels that it cursed her and her family and she doesn’t want anything to do with any of the money. She just wants her own family back. In the meantime, she tries to tell her sister Kristin, to slow down and value family more than her job.

This book contained many life lessons, and I needed my tissues for many of the pages (yes I was ugly crying ]]> 4.14 2023
author: Jamie Beck
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/03/03
date added: 2023/03/03
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
The other day, while perusing NetGalley’s Read Now section, I came across the title of this book and immediately grabbed it. I am what you would call a pluviophile- a lover of rain. ☔️ I love rain and anything that has to do with rain, so of course I wanted to read ‘The Beauty of Rain��.

This book is about two sisters who are trying to manage their lives, and also trying to find their purpose. Kristin is a wife and mother who works very long hours. Kristin tries to take care of everyone and everything, which has her burning the candle at both ends. She’s used to being a perfectionist, but she can only handle so much before the stress takes a toll on her. She loves her sister Amy dearly, and even let her move in with her for a while- but did that cause her marriage troubles on top of everything else too?

Amy, however is dealing with a tragic loss and finds it hard to move on in life. Amy won a large lottery, but feels that it cursed her and her family and she doesn’t want anything to do with any of the money. She just wants her own family back. In the meantime, she tries to tell her sister Kristin, to slow down and value family more than her job.

This book contained many life lessons, and I needed my tissues for many of the pages (yes I was ugly crying
]]> 61885041
Sometimes the darkest acts occur in the most beautiful houses��

When Alexis and her husband Sam buy a neglected Cape Cod house in an exclusive DC suburb, they are ecstatic. Sam is on the cusp of making partner at his law firm, Alexis is pregnant with their second child, and their glamorous neighbors welcome the couple with open arms. Things are looking up, and Alexis believes she can finally leave her troubled past behind.

But the neighborhood’s picture-perfect image is shattered when their neighbor Teddy �� a handsome, successful father of three �� is found dead on the steep banks of the Potomac River. The community is shaken, and as the police struggle to identify and apprehend the killer, tension in the neighborhood mounts and long-buried secrets start to emerge.

In the midst of the turmoil, Alexis takes comfort in her budding friendship with Teddy’s beautiful and charismatic widow, Blair. But as the women grow closer, the neighborhood only becomes more divided. And when the unthinkable truth behind Teddy’s murder is finally uncovered, both Blair and Alexis must reexamine their friendship and decide how far they are willing to go to preserve the lives they have so carefully constructed.]]> 296 Melissa Adelman 1250876567 Rachel 5
This story starts off with our main character, Alexis, and her husband Sam house hunting and buying a house in a very upscale neighborhood. The house needs a lot of work, basically a whole house renovation. Alexis is also pregnant and expecting their second child together. The stress can be unbearable at times.

After moving in, Alexis and Sam start to meet their neighbors. However, Alexis gets to know many of them after the tragic death of Teddy- who is their neighbor across the street. Teddy’s grieving widow, Blair, soon becomes very close with Alexis. Through Blair, Alexis is able to learn and hear about all of the neighborhood gossip- and then some.

What I loved most about this book was all of the rich character development, especially that of Alexis. I don’t think I have resonated with a character as much as I have with that of Alexis. I felt her personality matched mine pretty spot on. Her husband Sam however, is the perfect example of a total douche-canoe! I literally despised him!

What did I as a reader and Alexis learn from this story? Basically people are the same no matter what house or neighborhood they live in. In fact, Alexis stated it perfectly, “Only now, after these months of living here, do I see that the same dirty sins stain everyone. The clean, bright wash of wealth is just a more effective cover.��

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I highly recommend it to those who like a bit of domestic suspense and drama.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for an ARC of this book that I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own. Publication date: June 20, 2023.]]> 3.34 2023
author: Melissa Adelman
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.34
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2023/02/22
date added: 2023/02/22
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
‘What the Neighbors Saw��, is a debut novel by Melissa Adelman. Going by the synopsis, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book, seeing it was compared to a Desperate Housewives type of vibe. I’m not really into that, but this flawed neighborhood had everything I could ask for and more!

This story starts off with our main character, Alexis, and her husband Sam house hunting and buying a house in a very upscale neighborhood. The house needs a lot of work, basically a whole house renovation. Alexis is also pregnant and expecting their second child together. The stress can be unbearable at times.

After moving in, Alexis and Sam start to meet their neighbors. However, Alexis gets to know many of them after the tragic death of Teddy- who is their neighbor across the street. Teddy’s grieving widow, Blair, soon becomes very close with Alexis. Through Blair, Alexis is able to learn and hear about all of the neighborhood gossip- and then some.

What I loved most about this book was all of the rich character development, especially that of Alexis. I don’t think I have resonated with a character as much as I have with that of Alexis. I felt her personality matched mine pretty spot on. Her husband Sam however, is the perfect example of a total douche-canoe! I literally despised him!

What did I as a reader and Alexis learn from this story? Basically people are the same no matter what house or neighborhood they live in. In fact, Alexis stated it perfectly, “Only now, after these months of living here, do I see that the same dirty sins stain everyone. The clean, bright wash of wealth is just a more effective cover.��

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I highly recommend it to those who like a bit of domestic suspense and drama.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for an ARC of this book that I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own. Publication date: June 20, 2023.
]]> 61884922
When they hit a wall in the investigation, the FBI reluctantly asks for Rachel’s help in finding the missing influencer. Maddison seems only to exist on social media; she has no family, no friends, and other than in her posts, most people have never seen her. Who is she, really? Using a fake Instagram account, Rachel Krall goes undercover to BuzzCon, a popular influencer conference, where she discovers a world of fierce rivalry that may have turned lethal.

When police find the body of a woman with a tattoo of a snake eating its tail, the FBI must consider a chilling possibility: Bailey has an accomplice on the outside and a dangerous obsession with influencers, including Rachel Krell herself. Suddenly a target of a monster hiding in plain sight, Rachel is forced to confront the very real dangers that lurk in the dark corners of the internet.

Rachel Krall, the true crime podcaster star of Megan Goldin’s acclaimed Night Swim returns to search for a popular social media influencer who disappeared after visiting a suspected serial killer.]]> 343 Megan Goldin 1250280680 Rachel 3
In Dark Corners, Rachel Krall comes back to work looking for a serial killer for her podcast. This is after she receives a phone call from the FBI wanting her help. With that being said, the storyline seemed to be a little far fetched and Rachel’s character was very pompous and arrogant in this book- nothing like in The Night Swim.

There was quite a bit going on in this book, and this story will definitely appeal to social media influencers. I know social media is all the rage right now, but it just didn’t appeal to me in this book.
I did however, love the short chapters (that’s always a huge bonus for me). But for some reason, I just could not get into this book like I had wanted to. Maybe it was the timing, maybe it was me, but I just didn’t quite connect to any of the characters or storyline.

Although this book was not my favorite by Megan Goldin, I still look forward to reading future reads from her as I usually love her books!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: August 8, 2023.]]> 3.82 2023
author: Megan Goldin
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2022/12/25
date added: 2023/02/21
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
After having loved The Night Swim (Rachel Krall #1), I was super excited to get my hands on this book! Unfortunately, if I’m being honest, I didn’t love this book as much as I did The Night Swim.

In Dark Corners, Rachel Krall comes back to work looking for a serial killer for her podcast. This is after she receives a phone call from the FBI wanting her help. With that being said, the storyline seemed to be a little far fetched and Rachel’s character was very pompous and arrogant in this book- nothing like in The Night Swim.

There was quite a bit going on in this book, and this story will definitely appeal to social media influencers. I know social media is all the rage right now, but it just didn’t appeal to me in this book.
I did however, love the short chapters (that’s always a huge bonus for me). But for some reason, I just could not get into this book like I had wanted to. Maybe it was the timing, maybe it was me, but I just didn’t quite connect to any of the characters or storyline.

Although this book was not my favorite by Megan Goldin, I still look forward to reading future reads from her as I usually love her books!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: August 8, 2023.
]]> 61885043 All of us knew him. One of us killed him...

Seven women stand in shock in a seedy hotel room; a man's severed head sits in the centre of the floor. Each of the women �� the wife, the teenager, the ex, the journalist, the colleague, the friend, and the woman who raised him �� has a very good reason to have done it, yet each swears she did not. In order to protect each other, they must figure out who is responsible, all while staying one step ahead of the police.

Against the ticking clock of a murder investigation, each woman's secret is brought to light as the connections between them converge to reveal a killer.

A dark and nuanced portrait of love, loyalty, and manipulation, Speak of the Devil explores the roles in which women are cast in the lives of terrible men...and the fallout when they refuse to stay silent for one moment longer.]]> 304 Rose Wilding 1250886937 Rachel 4
Jamie Spellman is the man at the center of ‘Speak of the Devil��. Jamie was not a nice man, and all seven women that met up in the hotel room in the first chapter to witness his severed head on a table, all had reason to want him dead. As the book progresses, we meet each of the women and learn how each of them knew Jamie. We also learn how Jamie treated each of these women. One of the concepts that comes into play in Jamie’s behavior is nature vs. nurture. Was Jamie born evil, or did a lack of love and upbringing make him turn out the way he did? Regardless, in the end, all of his evil doings finally caught up with him.

I will say that this book started off a bit slow, but once the pace started picking up, I grew more and more invested in this story. I started to connect and really feel for each of the women. I think I ended up liking the character of Sarah the best. I feel that Sarah was wronged so much throughout her life, and she had the hardest time coping.

We do find out at the end of this story who actually killed Jamie. It wasn’t that much of a shocker. Then the book seems to kind of end a little abruptly. I guess I was wanting further updates on all of the women.

I do recommend reading this book, as it held my interest and was very interesting. I could relate to that of Jamie Spellman (because unfortunately we all know some nasty people). I could also relate to each of the women as their stories felt so real and emotional. To all my GR friends that are worried that this book might be too much for them, it is labeled as General Fiction- and rightfully so (maybe with a hint of suspense).

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Publication date: June 13, 2023.]]> 3.50 2023
author: Rose Wilding
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/02/09
date added: 2023/02/09
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
This book was not what I expected, but that’s okay because I still enjoyed it. The first chapter of this story starts off with seven women sitting around a severed head. I thought this was going to be a gory, gross book- but it didn’t turn out to be anything like that at all. Yes, a head without a body is definitely stomach turning, but what we try to find out through this story is which woman would behead that of Jamie Spellman (the deceased)?

Jamie Spellman is the man at the center of ‘Speak of the Devil��. Jamie was not a nice man, and all seven women that met up in the hotel room in the first chapter to witness his severed head on a table, all had reason to want him dead. As the book progresses, we meet each of the women and learn how each of them knew Jamie. We also learn how Jamie treated each of these women. One of the concepts that comes into play in Jamie’s behavior is nature vs. nurture. Was Jamie born evil, or did a lack of love and upbringing make him turn out the way he did? Regardless, in the end, all of his evil doings finally caught up with him.

I will say that this book started off a bit slow, but once the pace started picking up, I grew more and more invested in this story. I started to connect and really feel for each of the women. I think I ended up liking the character of Sarah the best. I feel that Sarah was wronged so much throughout her life, and she had the hardest time coping.

We do find out at the end of this story who actually killed Jamie. It wasn’t that much of a shocker. Then the book seems to kind of end a little abruptly. I guess I was wanting further updates on all of the women.

I do recommend reading this book, as it held my interest and was very interesting. I could relate to that of Jamie Spellman (because unfortunately we all know some nasty people). I could also relate to each of the women as their stories felt so real and emotional. To all my GR friends that are worried that this book might be too much for them, it is labeled as General Fiction- and rightfully so (maybe with a hint of suspense).

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Publication date: June 13, 2023.
]]> 60784806
Years later, still unable to live down the guilt surrounding what happened to her brother, Chris, and now with a child of her own to protect, Katie struggles to separate the real threats from the imagined. Then she gets the phone call: Chris has gone missing and needs his big sister once more.

Meanwhile, Detective Laurence Page is facing a particularly gruesome crime. A distinguished professor of fate and free will has been brutally murdered just hours after firing his staff. All the leads point back to two old cases: the gruesome attack on teenager Christopher Shaw, and the despicable crimes of a notorious serial killer who, legend had it, could see the future.

A dark, suspenseful new thriller about the mysteries of fate, the unbreakable bond of siblings, and a notorious serial killer who was said to know the future.]]> 336 Alex North 125075786X Rachel 4
Where to begin with ‘The Angel Maker��? First off, after having loved North’s previous two novels of ‘The Whisper Man�� and ‘The Shadows�� (especially The Shadows), my expectations were already high. I was also super excited to be able to read an ARC of this book, and Alex North did not disappoint! Once again, the author used his wild and clever imagination and brought us a heart pounding, fast-paced, thriller! Although this book may lean a little bit more toward horror/crime fiction.

This book is broken down into four parts, with each part being more mysterious and intriguing than the first. We deal mainly with two main characters of Katie and Christopher (Chris) Shaw. Katie and Chris have grown apart over the years due to a tragedy and other life circumstances. Throughout this story we get introduced to many more characters who somehow seem to be connected to Katie and Chris Shaw in some way. There were also two Detectives, Caroline Pettifer and Laurence Page, who were involved in a few cases throughout this story as well.

We also have Alan Hobbes who is a professor of philosophy, specifically that of determinism. Because of Hobbes and his teachings we learn quite a bit about determinism, and how essentially our future is already planned out for us no matter what choice we make�� Such an interesting theory and topic!

There was so much going on in this book! So many twists. So many turns. I had a hard time keeping up. I never once figured this book out early on. However, I am left with a few unanswered questions which I cannot reveal because that would be a total spoiler alert. So, because of that reason I am knocking off one star. Otherwise, this is a phenomenal book which I highly recommend!!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Alex North for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Publication date: February 28, 2023.]]> 3.39 2023
author: Alex North
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.39
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/01/28
date added: 2023/01/28
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
“If you could see the future, would you want to?��

Where to begin with ‘The Angel Maker��? First off, after having loved North’s previous two novels of ‘The Whisper Man�� and ‘The Shadows�� (especially The Shadows), my expectations were already high. I was also super excited to be able to read an ARC of this book, and Alex North did not disappoint! Once again, the author used his wild and clever imagination and brought us a heart pounding, fast-paced, thriller! Although this book may lean a little bit more toward horror/crime fiction.

This book is broken down into four parts, with each part being more mysterious and intriguing than the first. We deal mainly with two main characters of Katie and Christopher (Chris) Shaw. Katie and Chris have grown apart over the years due to a tragedy and other life circumstances. Throughout this story we get introduced to many more characters who somehow seem to be connected to Katie and Chris Shaw in some way. There were also two Detectives, Caroline Pettifer and Laurence Page, who were involved in a few cases throughout this story as well.

We also have Alan Hobbes who is a professor of philosophy, specifically that of determinism. Because of Hobbes and his teachings we learn quite a bit about determinism, and how essentially our future is already planned out for us no matter what choice we make�� Such an interesting theory and topic!

There was so much going on in this book! So many twists. So many turns. I had a hard time keeping up. I never once figured this book out early on. However, I am left with a few unanswered questions which I cannot reveal because that would be a total spoiler alert. So, because of that reason I am knocking off one star. Otherwise, this is a phenomenal book which I highly recommend!!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Alex North for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Publication date: February 28, 2023.
]]> 61884965 This summer, meet your neighbors.

The residents of the exclusive cul-de-sac on Alton Road are entangled in a web of secrets and scandal utterly unknown to the outside world, and even to each other.

On the night of the annual Summer block party, there has been a murder.

But, who did it and why takes readers back one year earlier, as rivalries and betrayals unfold—discovering that the real danger lies within their own block and nothing—and no one—is ever as it seems.]]> 384 Jamie Day 1250283191 Rachel 5 3.59 2023
author: Jamie Day
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2023/01/15
date added: 2023/01/15
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
This is one block party that I’m glad that I wasn’t invited to! Lol! Seriously though, I have to admit that this book exceeded my expectations and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was invested in the story and the characters from the first page all the way through until the last page. The Block Party contained a little bit of everything from drama (lots of it), lies, cheating, heavy drinking, revenge, stalking, and even murder!
]]> 60784411
When he comes across the strange ad for the Masson House in Degener, Texas, Eric thinks they may have finally caught a lucky break. The Masson property, notorious for being one of the most haunted places in Texas, needs a caretaker of sorts. The owner is looking for proof of paranormal activity. All they need to do is stay in the house and keep a detailed record of everything that happens there. Provided the house’s horrors don’t drive them all mad, like the caretakers before them.

The job calls to Eric, not just because there’s a huge payout if they can make it through, but because he wants to explore the secrets of the spite house. If it is indeed haunted, maybe it’ll help him understand the uncanny power that clings to his family, driving them from town to town, making them afraid to stop running. A terrifying Gothic thriller about grief and death and the depths of a father’s love, Johnny Compton’s The Spite House is a stunning debut by a horror master in the making.]]> 261 Johnny Compton 1250841410 Rachel 3
In this book, we start off with Eric Ross on the run with his two daughters, Dess and Stacy. The three of them are living out of motels, and Eric has been looking for ways to make money and stay under the radar. Lucky for Eric, he one day finds an ad in the newspaper for a caretaker of a spite house in Degener, Texas. This spite house is known to be haunted, but if Eric can stay the duration and make it out alive he will be paid a substantial amount of money to provide for himself and daughters. It’s an opportunity he can’t refuse!

While Eric is staying at the spite house (also called the Masson House), he learns a great deal about the history of the house and why it was built. He also learns who built this house, and why they built on this particular piece of land. There was a lot of history to be learned about the residents of the spite house and those surrounding it, both past and present. However, there are still many questions that I feel are left unanswered. Many issues did not seem to get resolved for me��

I want to commend the author as this is his debut novel. The writing is very good, the storyline is decent, but unfortunately this missed the mark for me in being a horror novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Publication date is: February 7, 2023.]]> 3.50 2023
author: Johnny Compton
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2023/01/10
date added: 2023/01/10
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
What initially made me want to read The Spite House, was it’s creepy cover! This book is also labeled as southern gothic horror, and I was ready for a good, scary, creepy read. However, after reading this book, I think The Spite House may be marketed wrong. Instead of southern, gothic horror- I think this book should be labeled as southern fiction with a paranormal/gothic twist.

In this book, we start off with Eric Ross on the run with his two daughters, Dess and Stacy. The three of them are living out of motels, and Eric has been looking for ways to make money and stay under the radar. Lucky for Eric, he one day finds an ad in the newspaper for a caretaker of a spite house in Degener, Texas. This spite house is known to be haunted, but if Eric can stay the duration and make it out alive he will be paid a substantial amount of money to provide for himself and daughters. It’s an opportunity he can’t refuse!

While Eric is staying at the spite house (also called the Masson House), he learns a great deal about the history of the house and why it was built. He also learns who built this house, and why they built on this particular piece of land. There was a lot of history to be learned about the residents of the spite house and those surrounding it, both past and present. However, there are still many questions that I feel are left unanswered. Many issues did not seem to get resolved for me��

I want to commend the author as this is his debut novel. The writing is very good, the storyline is decent, but unfortunately this missed the mark for me in being a horror novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. Publication date is: February 7, 2023.
]]> 62894828 Two women struggle toward a dark truth as a killer avenges the sins of the past in a twisting novel of suspense by the USA Today bestselling author of Do No Harm, Behind Every Lie, and The Night Olivia Fell.

After a violent home invasion, Neve Maguire returns with her daughter to Black Lake, her childhood summer home, hoping for a fresh start. But when the body of a woman is found floating among the reeds in the lake behind her house, she fears she has made a horrible mistake.

Neve is hiding secrets, though. Detective Jess Lambert can tell. Recently back after her own personal tragedy, Jess knows what it’s like to live with skeletons in your closet, and she’s sure Neve has a few of her own.

When another woman’s body is found, Jess and Neve are forced to confront a horrible truth. Because one thing is clear: the darkness of the past is waiting. And the secrets of Black Lake are only just beginning to surface.]]> 319 Christina McDonald 1662511612 Rachel 5
‘These Still Black Waters�� deals mainly with two characters. We have Neve Maguire, who seems to have it all. She’s married with a daughter, a beautiful home, and she’s a veterinarian. However, Neve decides to take a small vacation to her childhood vacation home in Black Lake after a traumatic event occurs. We also have Detective Jess Lambert. Jess is the detective working in Black Lake trying to solve the latest crime. I resonated with Jess’s character maybe a little too much, because like her, I have a bad leg that I use a cane for. I also walk with a limp and have severe pain. The trauma that surrounds the injury may not be the same, but I still found myself empathizing with her throughout this story.

As Jess Lambert works to solve the crime in Black Lake, everyone is suspect. Who do you believe? Who can you trust? Does our past always come back to haunt us?
With that being said, the book was left open a little bit to let us know that Jess Lambert’s work is not done and she will be back for book #2 (hurry up please!).

I highly recommend reading this book, and I would like to thank NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. Publication date is: August 8, 2023.]]> 3.71 2023
author: Christina McDonald
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2022/12/28
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I have read all of Christina McDonald’s books, and I will say that ‘These Still Black Waters��, is my favorite to date. This book was definitely different and not quite what I expected, but I just connected and resonated with the characters and storyline so much. This book has suspense, along with grief and trauma, and the past coming back to haunt us.

‘These Still Black Waters�� deals mainly with two characters. We have Neve Maguire, who seems to have it all. She’s married with a daughter, a beautiful home, and she’s a veterinarian. However, Neve decides to take a small vacation to her childhood vacation home in Black Lake after a traumatic event occurs. We also have Detective Jess Lambert. Jess is the detective working in Black Lake trying to solve the latest crime. I resonated with Jess’s character maybe a little too much, because like her, I have a bad leg that I use a cane for. I also walk with a limp and have severe pain. The trauma that surrounds the injury may not be the same, but I still found myself empathizing with her throughout this story.

As Jess Lambert works to solve the crime in Black Lake, everyone is suspect. Who do you believe? Who can you trust? Does our past always come back to haunt us?
With that being said, the book was left open a little bit to let us know that Jess Lambert’s work is not done and she will be back for book #2 (hurry up please!).

I highly recommend reading this book, and I would like to thank NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. Publication date is: August 8, 2023.
]]> 60568475 Meredith Maggs has everything a person needs.

A best friend in Sadie.
A beloved cat in Fred.
Jigsaws to fill the time.
Recipes to perfect.
Even a weekly visit from the Tesco delivery guy.

So what if she hasn't left the house in 1,214 days? That her memories are treacherous, and it's getting harder to ignore the estranged sister knocking at her door.

How long can one woman keep the world out?
How long before she invites in what's out there?
And how long does it take to discover the person you were meant to be?
]]> 368 Claire Alexander 1538709945 Rachel 4
In this book we meet Meredith Maggs, who after having suffered a traumatic experience (and actually some lifetime traumatic events), hasn’t left her house for 1,214 days. During this time she keeps a work from home job, she has her cat Fred, her books, her jigsaw puzzles, she cooks, she keeps a spotless house, she shops online, and has her groceries delivered. Her best friend Sadie, along with her two small children visit Meredith regularly. Then we have Tom, from a charity organization who becomes Meredith’s new friend, along with Celeste from an online chat group. The support and love she receives from her friends is definitely there. Her family, not so much��

During this time of getting to know Meredith, there are flashbacks to when Meredith was a child and still living at home with her mother and sister. Meredith and her sister Fiona (Fee), used to be super close and the best of friends until the traumatic event happened. Meredith and her mother were never close, so their estrangement after the event was actually a good thing (in my opinion).

There were so many instances that I could relate to in this story, and also so many emotions! I love how everything came together in the end and was wrapped in a nice pretty bow. For some reason, I’m left wanting a little more. While I got all my answers, I feel that the ending was too abrupt for me. Will there be a sequel perhaps? (I know I would love it if there was!)

All in all, I definitely recommend reading about the lovable, Meredith Maggs! This is a book that you will not forget anytime soon!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author for an ARC of this wonderful book! Publication date: November 1, 2022]]> 4.00 2022
author: Claire Alexander
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/10/08
date added: 2022/10/08
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
If there was any one character from a book that I’ve read, and could bring this character to life- it would definitely be Meredith Maggs, from Meredith, Alone. Meredith is the type of person that I would love to be best friends with, regardless of the fact that she hasn’t left her house for over three years! Meredith has a heart of gold, and we have so much in common, I could visit her at her house any day!

In this book we meet Meredith Maggs, who after having suffered a traumatic experience (and actually some lifetime traumatic events), hasn’t left her house for 1,214 days. During this time she keeps a work from home job, she has her cat Fred, her books, her jigsaw puzzles, she cooks, she keeps a spotless house, she shops online, and has her groceries delivered. Her best friend Sadie, along with her two small children visit Meredith regularly. Then we have Tom, from a charity organization who becomes Meredith’s new friend, along with Celeste from an online chat group. The support and love she receives from her friends is definitely there. Her family, not so much��

During this time of getting to know Meredith, there are flashbacks to when Meredith was a child and still living at home with her mother and sister. Meredith and her sister Fiona (Fee), used to be super close and the best of friends until the traumatic event happened. Meredith and her mother were never close, so their estrangement after the event was actually a good thing (in my opinion).

There were so many instances that I could relate to in this story, and also so many emotions! I love how everything came together in the end and was wrapped in a nice pretty bow. For some reason, I’m left wanting a little more. While I got all my answers, I feel that the ending was too abrupt for me. Will there be a sequel perhaps? (I know I would love it if there was!)

All in all, I definitely recommend reading about the lovable, Meredith Maggs! This is a book that you will not forget anytime soon!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author for an ARC of this wonderful book! Publication date: November 1, 2022
]]> 60784578
A stay-at-home mom with a past.
A has-been rock star with a habit.
A reality TV producer with a debt.
Three disparate lives.
One deadly secret.

Twenty five years ago, Jenna, Donnie, and Nico were the best of friends, having forged a bond through the abuse and neglect they endured as residents of Savior House, a group home for parentless teens. When the home was shut down―after the disappearance of several kids―the three were split up.

Though the trauma of their childhood has never left them, each went on to live accomplished―if troubled―lives. They haven’t seen one another since they were teens but now are reunited for a single haunting reason: someone is trying to kill them.

To survive, the group will have to revisit the nightmares of their childhoods and confront their shared past―a past that holds the secret to why someone wants them dead.

It’s a reunion none of them asked for . . . or wanted. But it may be the only way to save all their lives.

What Have We Done is both an edge-of-your-seat thriller and a gut-wrenching coming-of-age story.]]> 358 Alex Finlay 1250863724 Rachel 5
After having previously read The Night Shift by Alex Finlay (which I loved), I was super excited to get my hands on What Have We Done- and this book did not disappoint! I will admit I was a bit hesitant at first because it was taking a different route than the usual thrillers that I’m used to. This book is more an action packed thriller (think along the lines of Nikita), as compared to the psychological suspense thrillers that I am used to. With that being said, the short chapters and evolving storyline kept me glued to the pages.

In this story we have the focus of three main characters. We have Jenna, Nico, and Donnie. All three of these characters knew each other 25 years ago from their time together in a group home called Savior House. Life has pulled these members of the home, as well as others, in several different directions and they have all gone their separate ways. Now, a chain event of tragedies has linked these three characters back together.

Through this time we learn the backstories of Jenna, Nico, and Donnie. We also learn how they are living in their present day lives. How has their past brought them all back together? Will they ever be able to move on?

I highly recommend reading this newest release, especially if you are a fan of action packed thrillers full of excitement! There were times when my anxiety was little high, but that’s what happens when you are kept on the edge of your seat! This is a fast read, and the chapters are nice and short which is a major bonus!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for an ARC of this book. Publication date is: March 07, 2023.]]> 3.50 2023
author: Alex Finlay
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2022/09/27
date added: 2022/09/27
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Mr. Finlay, what have you done?�� I think that is the question that needs to be asked to describe this fast-paced, action packed thriller!

After having previously read The Night Shift by Alex Finlay (which I loved), I was super excited to get my hands on What Have We Done- and this book did not disappoint! I will admit I was a bit hesitant at first because it was taking a different route than the usual thrillers that I’m used to. This book is more an action packed thriller (think along the lines of Nikita), as compared to the psychological suspense thrillers that I am used to. With that being said, the short chapters and evolving storyline kept me glued to the pages.

In this story we have the focus of three main characters. We have Jenna, Nico, and Donnie. All three of these characters knew each other 25 years ago from their time together in a group home called Savior House. Life has pulled these members of the home, as well as others, in several different directions and they have all gone their separate ways. Now, a chain event of tragedies has linked these three characters back together.

Through this time we learn the backstories of Jenna, Nico, and Donnie. We also learn how they are living in their present day lives. How has their past brought them all back together? Will they ever be able to move on?

I highly recommend reading this newest release, especially if you are a fan of action packed thrillers full of excitement! There were times when my anxiety was little high, but that’s what happens when you are kept on the edge of your seat! This is a fast read, and the chapters are nice and short which is a major bonus!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for an ARC of this book. Publication date is: March 07, 2023.
]]> 60784636
Except for the occasional catnap or small blackout where she loses track of time, she hasn’t slept in a year.

Isabelle's entire existence now revolves around finding him, but she knows she can’t go on this way forever. In hopes of jarring loose a new witness or buried clue, she agrees to be interviewed by a true-crime podcaster—but his interest in Isabelle's past makes her nervous. His incessant questioning paired with her severe insomnia has brought up uncomfortable memories from her own childhood, making Isabelle start to doubt her recollection of the night of Mason’s disappearance, as well as second-guess who she can trust... including herself. But she is determined to figure out the truth no matter where it leads.]]> 326 Stacy Willingham 1250803853 Rachel 5
All the Dangerous Things focuses on the main character of Isabelle Drake. It starts off with the tragedy of her missing son Mason, which in turn leads to Isabelle’s insomnia (and who can blame her). During this time we have flashbacks to 1999, during Isabelle’s childhood, in which she also had a sleep disorder. The flashbacks, the memories, the nightmares, make Isabelle start to question her own self and sanity.

During this horrible time of Isabelle’s son going missing, she also has to deal with a failing marriage and some shady neighbors. Isabelle also hopes to find friendship and her son, with the help of a podcast director. There were so many twists and turns in this story, I had a hard time keeping up! Every time I thought I had one thing figured out, turned out I was wrong again!

I would also like to add that as much as I enjoyed this story, I really loved the Author’s Note at the end. I hope that everyone takes the time to really read her note and understand what she is saying and to reach out for help if you ever need it! This book gives you so much to think about long after you finish reading it.

I definitely recommend reading this book, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book. Publication date: January 10, 2023.]]> 4.04 2023
author: Stacy Willingham
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2022/09/21
date added: 2022/09/21
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Let me just start off first by what everyone is probably wondering- and the the answer is No! There is no sophomore slump in the cards for this brilliant, thriller author. Stacy Willingham has delivered another novel that left me up all night because I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. If you were a fan of Willingham’s debut novel, A Flicker in the Dark, you will probably enjoy this newest release as well.

All the Dangerous Things focuses on the main character of Isabelle Drake. It starts off with the tragedy of her missing son Mason, which in turn leads to Isabelle’s insomnia (and who can blame her). During this time we have flashbacks to 1999, during Isabelle’s childhood, in which she also had a sleep disorder. The flashbacks, the memories, the nightmares, make Isabelle start to question her own self and sanity.

During this horrible time of Isabelle’s son going missing, she also has to deal with a failing marriage and some shady neighbors. Isabelle also hopes to find friendship and her son, with the help of a podcast director. There were so many twists and turns in this story, I had a hard time keeping up! Every time I thought I had one thing figured out, turned out I was wrong again!

I would also like to add that as much as I enjoyed this story, I really loved the Author’s Note at the end. I hope that everyone takes the time to really read her note and understand what she is saying and to reach out for help if you ever need it! This book gives you so much to think about long after you finish reading it.

I definitely recommend reading this book, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book. Publication date: January 10, 2023.
]]> 59808188 My Dark Vanessa meets The Queen's Gambit in this new novel of suspense about the bonds of family, the limits of talent, the risks of ambition, and the rewards of revenge.

When former piano prodigy Saskia Kreis returns home to Milwaukee after her mother's unexpected death, she expects to inherit the family estate, the Elf House. But with the discovery that her mother's will bequeathed the Elf House to a man that Saskia shares a complicated history with, she is forced to reexamine her own past--and the romantic relationship that changed the course of her life--for answers. Can she find a way to claim her heritage while keeping her secrets buried, or will the fallout from digging too deep destroy her?

Set against a post #MeToo landscape, The Ingenue delves into mother-daughter relationships, the expectations of talent, the stories we tell ourselves, and what happens when the things that once made you special are taken from you. Moving between Saskia's childhood and the present day, this dark, contemporary fairy tale pulses with desire, longing, and uncertainty, as it builds to its spectacular, shocking climax.]]> 320 Rachel Kapelke-Dale 1250834562 Rachel 4
The Ingenue deals with the present day and the teenage years of Saskia. It also deals with growing up and coming home to the mansion she grew up in, known as the Elf House. I wouldn’t say that Saskia had a complex relationship with her mother/parents, so much as she had an independent relationship from them. So many secrets were kept, and the Elf House didn’t necessarily keep them either��

I’m still processing this book, as it wasn’t an easy read. Still reflecting on the fact that everything that happens to us in our childhood/teenage years does affect our adult years and the choices we make. Did I like the ending of the book? I’m not sure? I don’t think it was realistic, and probably wouldn’t work for the other “ingenue�� out there, but that’s just my thoughts on that right now.

I previously read The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale, which I loved, so I was excited to read this newest release. I do recommend reading this book as well, although it’s not a light, easy read. The Ingenue covers a topic/topics that are not being discussed enough.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book. Publication date: December 6, 2022.]]> 3.43 2022
author: Rachel Kapelke-Dale
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.43
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/09/18
date added: 2022/09/18
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
According to Merriam-Webster.com- “an ingenue person is: a naive girl or young woman��. This small definition will give you big details to what this book is about. This is also somewhat of a dark, disturbing read. There are often times when I felt angry and depressed for that of our main character, Saskia. This book has been compared to My Dark Vanessa, and if you are familiar with that book (which I am), I can agree that it is.

The Ingenue deals with the present day and the teenage years of Saskia. It also deals with growing up and coming home to the mansion she grew up in, known as the Elf House. I wouldn’t say that Saskia had a complex relationship with her mother/parents, so much as she had an independent relationship from them. So many secrets were kept, and the Elf House didn’t necessarily keep them either��

I’m still processing this book, as it wasn’t an easy read. Still reflecting on the fact that everything that happens to us in our childhood/teenage years does affect our adult years and the choices we make. Did I like the ending of the book? I’m not sure? I don’t think it was realistic, and probably wouldn’t work for the other “ingenue�� out there, but that’s just my thoughts on that right now.

I previously read The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale, which I loved, so I was excited to read this newest release. I do recommend reading this book as well, although it’s not a light, easy read. The Ingenue covers a topic/topics that are not being discussed enough.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book. Publication date: December 6, 2022.
]]> 60305071 At midnight, one of them is dead.
By morning, all of them are suspects.

It's a party to end all parties, but not everyone is here to celebrate.

On New Year’s Eve, Rhys Lloyd has a house full of guests. His vacation homes on Mirror Lake are a success, and he’s generously invited the village to drink champagne with their wealthy new neighbors.

But by midnight, Rhys will be floating dead in the freezing waters of the lake.

On New Year’s Day, Ffion Morgan has a village full of suspects. The tiny community is her home, so the suspects are her neighbors, friends and family—and Ffion has her own secrets to protect.

With a lie uncovered at every turn, soon the question isn’t who wanted Rhys dead…but who finally killed him.

In a village with this many secrets, murder is just the beginning. ]]> 432 Clare Mackintosh 172825096X Rachel 4
I will admit however, that I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book. This book did start off rather slow with the introduction of far too many characters and locations. I even had to look up the pronunciation of many words that were in Welsh, and also that of our main characters name, Ffion.
With that being said, I eventually came to love this book because of our main character, Ffion Morgan. At first, I found her a bit devious and self centered. As the story progressed, and more of Ffion’s history and backstory was revealed, she is now one of my favorite characters in a book.

The Last Party also has two parts to the story. Once Part Two begins, this story really takes off and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. This is a police thriller that involves the work of Ffion Morgan and her partner, Leo Brady (another character who grew on me). Ffion and Leo have a great chemistry working together to solve the murder of the wealthy Rhys Lloyd on New Year’s Eve. Of course, there was a party that consisted of lots of suspects that kept me guessing until the very end. And even the very end gave me yet another twist I did not expect��

I highly recommend reading The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh, and I’m very happy to know that DC Ffion Morgan #2 is presently in the works! I cannot wait to read that, because this is definitely a series that is not to be missed!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my advanced digital review copy. Publication date is: November 8, 2022.]]> 3.70 2022
author: Clare Mackintosh
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/09/04
date added: 2022/09/04
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
After having read a few books by Clare Mackintosh in the past and having enjoyed them, I was super excited to be able to read The Last Party. Once again, Mackintosh did not disappoint!

I will admit however, that I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book. This book did start off rather slow with the introduction of far too many characters and locations. I even had to look up the pronunciation of many words that were in Welsh, and also that of our main characters name, Ffion.
With that being said, I eventually came to love this book because of our main character, Ffion Morgan. At first, I found her a bit devious and self centered. As the story progressed, and more of Ffion’s history and backstory was revealed, she is now one of my favorite characters in a book.

The Last Party also has two parts to the story. Once Part Two begins, this story really takes off and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. This is a police thriller that involves the work of Ffion Morgan and her partner, Leo Brady (another character who grew on me). Ffion and Leo have a great chemistry working together to solve the murder of the wealthy Rhys Lloyd on New Year’s Eve. Of course, there was a party that consisted of lots of suspects that kept me guessing until the very end. And even the very end gave me yet another twist I did not expect��

I highly recommend reading The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh, and I’m very happy to know that DC Ffion Morgan #2 is presently in the works! I cannot wait to read that, because this is definitely a series that is not to be missed!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my advanced digital review copy. Publication date is: November 8, 2022.
]]> 60784540
Picture a lovely cottage on a cliff, with sloping lawns, walking paths, and beautiful flowers. It’s Gabe and Pippa Gerard’s dream home in a sleepy coastal town. But their perfect house hides something sinister. The tall cliffs have become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Over the past several months, Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge.

Until one day, he doesn’t. When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, the questions spiral. . . .Did the victim jump? Was she pushed? And would Gabe, the love of Pippa’s life, her soulmate . . . lie? As the perfect façade of their marriage begins to crack, the deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel. Because sometimes, the most convincing lies are the ones we tell ourselves.]]> 327 Sally Hepworth 1250229707 Rachel 4
The Soulmate has two main POV’s that go back and forth. We have Pippa (Now), and we have Amanda (After). The weaving of characters back and forth was done flawlessly, along with their spouse’s stories. Every time I thought I had this story figured out, something else would pop up and I would be thrown for another loop.

In this book there are also many topics that are included such as marriage, infidelity, mental issues, suicide, loss of family�� quite a few issues actually. Somehow they all pertained to this story without making the author look like she was just trying to throw in a bunch of social/personal issues that go on in the world right now. Everything blended in nicely and made for a thrilling story!

My only gripe however (I know, Boo!), is that I’m left a little underwhelmed with the ending. I think I was expecting something quite different. Had this book ended and went a different way (as to what I had pictured in my mind), I think I would have went with the full five stars. Otherwise, this is a great read and I highly recommend reading this book!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of The Soulmate. Publication date is April 4, 2023.]]> 3.78 2022
author: Sally Hepworth
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/08/26
date added: 2022/08/26
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
Who needs a soulmate in life when you can just read novels by Sally Hepworth?! Once again, Sally Hepworth has written a novel that kept me wanting more and more with each page! I could not turn the pages fast enough, and the short chapters with multiple twists and turns made this book even more enjoyable.

The Soulmate has two main POV’s that go back and forth. We have Pippa (Now), and we have Amanda (After). The weaving of characters back and forth was done flawlessly, along with their spouse’s stories. Every time I thought I had this story figured out, something else would pop up and I would be thrown for another loop.

In this book there are also many topics that are included such as marriage, infidelity, mental issues, suicide, loss of family�� quite a few issues actually. Somehow they all pertained to this story without making the author look like she was just trying to throw in a bunch of social/personal issues that go on in the world right now. Everything blended in nicely and made for a thrilling story!

My only gripe however (I know, Boo!), is that I’m left a little underwhelmed with the ending. I think I was expecting something quite different. Had this book ended and went a different way (as to what I had pictured in my mind), I think I would have went with the full five stars. Otherwise, this is a great read and I highly recommend reading this book!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of The Soulmate. Publication date is April 4, 2023.
]]> 60784641 From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins comes a deliciously wicked gothic suspense, set at an Italian villa with a dark history, for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.

As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But by their 30s, their bond has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess suggests a girls trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend.

Villa Aestas in Orvieto is a high-end holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato, and rented for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon. In an attempt to reignite his creative spark, Noel invites up-and-coming musician, Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. But he also sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album––and ends in Pierce’s brutal murder.

As Emily digs into the villa’s complicated history, she begins to think there might be more to the story of that fateful summer in 1974. That perhaps Pierce’s murder wasn’t just a tale of sex, drugs, and rock & roll gone wrong, but that something more sinister might have occurred––and that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works that Mari and Lara left behind.

Yet the closer that Emily gets to the truth, the more tension she feels developing between her and Chess. As secrets from the past come to light, equally dangerous betrayals from the present also emerge––and it begins to look like the villa will claim another victim before the summer ends.]]> 279 Rachel Hawkins 125028001X Rachel 4
The Villa has the past story of Mari (1974), which I loved! In this story we learn of the first visit to the villa in Italy with her boyfriend Pierce, and her sister Lara. Lara was not one of my favorite characters in this story. In fact, I think we were supposed to feel sorry for her, but I didn’t. I didn’t have any feelings for Mari’s boyfriend Pierce either. Noel was a rock star who invited everyone to stay at the villa back in 1974, and I think he was the only one who had any sense in his head (even if he was a bit arrogant).

We now come to present day, and two “best friends�� Emily and Chess go to the villa for a six week vacation. I despised the character of Chess so much, I think that’s when the feelings for this book started to go down. This is also when the book took a turn to being about how girls should stick together no matter how bad they screw each other over. Sorry- but I don’t play like that! If you are an evil, conniving, manipulator, then stay away from me!

We then go to the ending of the book that seemed to leave some open ends and gave you something to think about. I may not have loved this book as much as The Wife Upstairs by Hawkins, but I still highly recommend reading it as the writing is so strong and Mari’s story is impeccable!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book. Publication date January 3, 2023.
]]> 3.59 2023
author: Rachel Hawkins
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2022/07/16
date added: 2022/07/16
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I started off LOVING this book, thinking it was going to be my favorite thriller of the year, but then something happened that took a turn that leaned towards something else�� I am now flipping back and forth between 3.5 and 4 stars.

The Villa has the past story of Mari (1974), which I loved! In this story we learn of the first visit to the villa in Italy with her boyfriend Pierce, and her sister Lara. Lara was not one of my favorite characters in this story. In fact, I think we were supposed to feel sorry for her, but I didn’t. I didn’t have any feelings for Mari’s boyfriend Pierce either. Noel was a rock star who invited everyone to stay at the villa back in 1974, and I think he was the only one who had any sense in his head (even if he was a bit arrogant).

We now come to present day, and two “best friends�� Emily and Chess go to the villa for a six week vacation. I despised the character of Chess so much, I think that’s when the feelings for this book started to go down. This is also when the book took a turn to being about how girls should stick together no matter how bad they screw each other over. Sorry- but I don’t play like that! If you are an evil, conniving, manipulator, then stay away from me!

We then go to the ending of the book that seemed to leave some open ends and gave you something to think about. I may not have loved this book as much as The Wife Upstairs by Hawkins, but I still highly recommend reading it as the writing is so strong and Mari’s story is impeccable!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book. Publication date January 3, 2023.

]]> 60180796
Grace isn’t exactly thrilled when her newly widowed mother, Jackie, asks to move in with her. They’ve never had a great relationship, and Grace likes her space—especially now that she’s stuck at home during a pandemic. Then again, she needs help with the mortgage after losing her job. And maybe it’ll be a chance for them to bond—or at least give each other a hand.

But living with Mother isn’t for everyone. Good intentions turn bad soon after Jackie moves in. Old wounds fester; new ones open. Grace starts having nightmares about her disabled twin sister, who died when they were kids. And Jackie discovers that Grace secretly catfishes people online—a hobby Jackie thinks is unforgivable.

When Jackie makes an earth-shattering accusation against her, Grace sees it as an act of revenge, and it sends her spiraling into a sleep-deprived madness. As the walls close in, the ghosts of Grace’s past collide with a new but familiar threat: Mom.]]> 317 Zoje Stage 1662506228 Rachel 4
Mothered took place during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. Even though we are not totally out of the woods yet with Covid, it just seems like so long ago that the whole world was practically shut down. Many of us may have been stuck at home or sheltering in place with someone who we may might not have been very close with- as was the case in Mothered. Grace and her estranged mother Jackie, were in lockdown together. It was during this lockdown that strange occurrences started to happen, especially for Grace. Grace started having weird dreams and nightmares, sometimes not being able to tell the difference between real life or the dream��
Grace also had a twin sister named Hope, who passed away. Will Grace’s mother,Jackie and her dreams help her remember what really happened to her sister?

The ending of Mothered had a nice little surprise ending that I did not see coming. I also enjoyed the Epilogue very much, as it will leave you with something to think about for some time afterwards.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Publication date: February 14, 2023.
]]> 3.30 2023
author: Zoje Stage
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.30
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2022/07/08
date added: 2022/07/08
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
The first thing that I love about this book is the cover! Cover. Love. On this one! They say never judge a book by its cover, but I’m so glad that I did with this one. This was my first Zoje Stage read, and I cannot wait to read her very popular Baby Teeth next.

Mothered took place during the start of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. Even though we are not totally out of the woods yet with Covid, it just seems like so long ago that the whole world was practically shut down. Many of us may have been stuck at home or sheltering in place with someone who we may might not have been very close with- as was the case in Mothered. Grace and her estranged mother Jackie, were in lockdown together. It was during this lockdown that strange occurrences started to happen, especially for Grace. Grace started having weird dreams and nightmares, sometimes not being able to tell the difference between real life or the dream��
Grace also had a twin sister named Hope, who passed away. Will Grace’s mother,Jackie and her dreams help her remember what really happened to her sister?

The ending of Mothered had a nice little surprise ending that I did not see coming. I also enjoyed the Epilogue very much, as it will leave you with something to think about for some time afterwards.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Publication date: February 14, 2023.

]]> 59808228 With Behind Closed Doors, B.A. Paris takes the psychological thriller to shocking new heights. Now she'll hold you captive with this stunning new thriller about one woman wed into a family with deadly intentions.

THEN
Amelie has always been a survivor, from losing her parents as a child in Paris to making it on her own in London. As she builds a life for herself, she is swept up into a glamorous lifestyle where she married the handsome billionaire Ned Hawthorne.

NOW
But then, Amelie wakes up in a pitch-black room, not knowing where she is. Why has she been taken? Who are her mysterious captors? And why does she soon feel safer here, imprisoned, than she had begun to feel with her husband Ned?

In true B.A. Paris style, The Prisoner is a gripping survival story, a twisted tale of love and at its dark heart a thriller to keep you up all night.]]> 298 B.A. Paris 1250274141 Rachel 4
There are two parts to this book. There is Part One- The Kidnap, which goes back and forth between past and present. Then there is Part Two- The Reckoning, which basically tells us what happens after Part One (which is the kidnapping). Both parts of the book also revolve around our central character of Amelie. I liked Amelie’s character very much and I felt deeply for her and I was rooting for her from the get go. We also learn a lot about that of Ned Hawthorpe’s character. Ughhh! He was despicable.

What I didn’t care for was Part Two of this book. After Part One being so suspenseful and keeping me on the edge of my seat, I felt a bit let down by this “reckoning��, and conclusion. What started out as what could have been a five star rating for this book, I dropped it down for the dragging on of Part Two.

Regardless, I still recommend reading this book as B.A. Paris is one of my favorite go-to authors. I also love the title and cover for this book!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book. Publication Date: Nov 01, 2022]]> 3.54 2022
author: B.A. Paris
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/07/01
date added: 2022/07/01
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I was so excited to read this newest release by B.A. Paris! I’ve loved all her previous novels, and The Prisoner was a fast paced, page turner just like the rest of them!

There are two parts to this book. There is Part One- The Kidnap, which goes back and forth between past and present. Then there is Part Two- The Reckoning, which basically tells us what happens after Part One (which is the kidnapping). Both parts of the book also revolve around our central character of Amelie. I liked Amelie’s character very much and I felt deeply for her and I was rooting for her from the get go. We also learn a lot about that of Ned Hawthorpe’s character. Ughhh! He was despicable.

What I didn’t care for was Part Two of this book. After Part One being so suspenseful and keeping me on the edge of my seat, I felt a bit let down by this “reckoning��, and conclusion. What started out as what could have been a five star rating for this book, I dropped it down for the dragging on of Part Two.

Regardless, I still recommend reading this book as B.A. Paris is one of my favorite go-to authors. I also love the title and cover for this book!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book. Publication Date: Nov 01, 2022
]]> 58724748
Two years ago, Liv was living with her best friend, dating a new man, and thriving as a successful writer for a trendy magazine. Now, she’s lost and disoriented in a New York City that looks nothing like what she remembers. Catching a glimpse of the local news, she’s horrified to see reports of a crime scene where the victim’s blood has been used to scrawl a message across a window, the same message that’s inked on her hands. What did she do last night? And why does she remember nothing from the past two years? Liv finds herself on the run for a crime she doesn’t remember committing as she tries to piece together the fragments of her life. But there’s someone who does know exactly what she did, and they’ll do anything to make her forget―permanently.

In the vein of SJ Watson’s Before I Go to Sleep and Christopher Nolan’s cult classic Memento, Megan Goldin’s Stay Awake is an electrifying novel that plays with memory and murder.]]> 340 Megan Goldin 1250280664 Rachel 4
After having read The Night Swim by Megan Goldin (which is one of my favorite books- a complete five star read), I could not wait to get my hands on her latest book, Stay Awake. I knew before I even read it that I was going to love it! The character of Liv Reese was developed and described so perfectly, it was hard not to become totally absorbed in these pages.

I recommend going into this book totally blind, but make sure to pay very close attention to all the characters and details (make sure to stay very awake for that). I’m usually pretty good at guessing how a story will unfold (after you read as many thrillers as I have, they seem easy to figure out), but this one threw me for a loop! I didn’t guess how this story would unfold at all!

I’m not sure what it is, but there is something that is bothering me with the ending. Maybe a bit unbelievable, so that is why I’m knocking off one star. Otherwise, I highly recommend reading this book!

I would also like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. Publication date is August 9, 2022.]]> 3.80 2022
author: Megan Goldin
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/03/27
date added: 2022/03/27
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I had no problem “staying awake�� while I read this fast-paced thriller!

After having read The Night Swim by Megan Goldin (which is one of my favorite books- a complete five star read), I could not wait to get my hands on her latest book, Stay Awake. I knew before I even read it that I was going to love it! The character of Liv Reese was developed and described so perfectly, it was hard not to become totally absorbed in these pages.

I recommend going into this book totally blind, but make sure to pay very close attention to all the characters and details (make sure to stay very awake for that). I’m usually pretty good at guessing how a story will unfold (after you read as many thrillers as I have, they seem easy to figure out), but this one threw me for a loop! I didn’t guess how this story would unfold at all!

I’m not sure what it is, but there is something that is bothering me with the ending. Maybe a bit unbelievable, so that is why I’m knocking off one star. Otherwise, I highly recommend reading this book!

I would also like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. Publication date is August 9, 2022.
]]> 58724990 384 D.J. Palmer 1250267889 Rachel 4 With that being said, I am still a huge fan of D.J. Palmer and I plan on reading whatever he produces next. I highly recommend reading this new book when it releases, and in the meantime I also recommend reading his previous novels if you haven’t yet done so. Trust me when I say, D.J. Palmer never disappoints!

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and the author for my advanced digital review copy.
Release date May 10, 2022.]]> 3.84 2022
author: D.J. Palmer
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2021/10/25
date added: 2021/10/26
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
(3.5 stars). This was my third book that I’ve read by D.J. Palmer. The previous two books were five star reads for me (The New Husband, and The Perfect Daughter). For some reason, I didn’t feel that this story grabbed me like it should have. Yes, there was a ton of suspense and every character was questionable- but I still couldn’t quite connect. If I’m being honest, I think the character of Natalie and her choices irritated me a bit. I just can’t quite put my finger on it.
With that being said, I am still a huge fan of D.J. Palmer and I plan on reading whatever he produces next. I highly recommend reading this new book when it releases, and in the meantime I also recommend reading his previous novels if you haven’t yet done so. Trust me when I say, D.J. Palmer never disappoints!

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and the author for my advanced digital review copy.
Release date May 10, 2022.
]]> 57450523
Julie Jones has left her suffocating marriage. With her teenage daughter, Jess, she’s starting over. Their new house in Oceanside is the first step toward a new life. Even if it does come with the unexpected. The previous owners, a pastor and his wife, have left something—or rather someone—behind��

Tom Dean has a bitter hatred for the father who considers him a lost cause, and for the woman who’s moved into their family’s house. The only home he’s ever known. He’s never going to leave. She thinks he’ll be gone in three days, but Tom has the perfect plan.

For a newly single mother and her daughter, a fresh start is the beginning of a nightmare. Before the weekend is over, somebody is going to get exactly what they deserve.]]> 299 Kaira Rouda 1542026113 Rachel 5 Somebody’s Home is a fast paced read. This book deals with real life issues, and unfortunately some very disturbing issues. Although the majority of the characters were not very likable, they each had their own very personal experiences in life to deal with.
While we do know what is going to happen towards the end of the book, the intensity will keep you on the edge of your seat! A true nail biter for sure! I would love to see (or rather read) a sequel to this book.
I highly recommend reading Somebody’s Home, as it has the perfect amount of drama and suspense.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publisher for my advanced copy of this book! Date of release January 18, 2022.]]> 3.55 2022
author: Kaira Rouda
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2021/10/12
date added: 2021/10/13
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
I just want to start off by saying that I absolutely adore Kaira Rouda! I follow her page on Facebook and she is so adorable and down to earth! This is also the third book that I have read by Kaira Rouda, and it definitely will not be my last.
Somebody’s Home is a fast paced read. This book deals with real life issues, and unfortunately some very disturbing issues. Although the majority of the characters were not very likable, they each had their own very personal experiences in life to deal with.
While we do know what is going to happen towards the end of the book, the intensity will keep you on the edge of your seat! A true nail biter for sure! I would love to see (or rather read) a sequel to this book.
I highly recommend reading Somebody’s Home, as it has the perfect amount of drama and suspense.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publisher for my advanced copy of this book! Date of release January 18, 2022.
]]> 56382408 On her own since the age of eighteen, Cass Macklin dated brilliant, troubled Ben McGreavy, convinced he was the smartest person she’d ever known. They partied their way through their twenties, slowly descending into a bleak world of binge-drinking and broken promises, inebriated for most of a decade. Now Ben is dead, and Cass is broke, homeless, scared…and pregnant. Determined to have a healthy pregnancy and raise Ben’s baby, Cass has to find a way to stop drinking and build a stable life for herself and her child. But with no money, skills, or sober friends or family, the task seems insurmountable. At wit’s end, Cass turns to the only person with the means to help Ben’s brother Scott, third basemen for the Boston Red Sox, a man with a temper and problems of his own. The two make a deal that neither one of them is sure they can live up to. As Cass struggles to take control of her life and to ask for help when she needs it, Scott begins to realize there’s a life for him beyond the baseball diamond. By turns heartbreaking and humorous, with its message that change is possible, that forgiveness can be freely given, and that life, though imperfect, is worth embracing, Catch Us When We�� Fall is a story of human connectedness and hope.]]> 416 Juliette Fay 0063079968 Rachel 5 I was gripped from the first page until the very last. This story is so real and emotional, it’s hard not to become attached to this book. I feel that many people will be able to resonate with this story and with each of the characters. I wish I had the words to describe how much I adore this book. Even though this book is a break from my usual genre of thrillers, it ended up being just what I needed!

I would also like to thank Harper Collins/William Morrow for an advanced review copy of Catch Us When We Fall. I am also very grateful for the opportunity to read this moving novel by Juliette Fay, as I am now a devoted reader of hers.]]> 4.14 2021
author: Juliette Fay
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2021/09/16
date added: 2021/09/16
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher
review:
I don’t think that I’ve ever been more attached to characters in a book the way that I was with Cass and Scott in Catch Us When We Fall. The storytelling was absolutely remarkable in this book!
I was gripped from the first page until the very last. This story is so real and emotional, it’s hard not to become attached to this book. I feel that many people will be able to resonate with this story and with each of the characters. I wish I had the words to describe how much I adore this book. Even though this book is a break from my usual genre of thrillers, it ended up being just what I needed!

I would also like to thank Harper Collins/William Morrow for an advanced review copy of Catch Us When We Fall. I am also very grateful for the opportunity to read this moving novel by Juliette Fay, as I am now a devoted reader of hers.
]]> 55425157 Following up on her acclaimed and wildly successful New York Times bestseller Lady in the Lake, Laura Lippman returns with a dark, complex tale of psychological suspense with echoes of Misery involving a novelist, incapacitated by injury, who is plagued by mysterious phone calls.

After being injured in a freak accident, novelist Gerry Andersen lies in a hospital bed in his glamorous but sterile apartment, isolated from the busy world he can see through his windows, utterly dependent on two women he barely knows: his young assistant and a night nurse whose competency he questions.

But Gerry is also beginning to question his own competency. As he moves in and out of dreamlike memories and seemingly random appearances of a persistent ex-girlfriend at his bedside, he fears he may be losing his grip on reality, much like his mother who recently passed away from dementia.

Most distressing, he believes he’s being plagued by strange telephone calls, in which a woman claiming to be the titular character of his hit novel Dream Girl swears she will be coming to see him soon. The character is completely fictitious, but no one has ever believed Gerry when he makes that claim. Is he the victim of a cruel prank—or is he actually losing his mind�� There is no record of the calls according to the log on his phone. Could there be someone he has wronged★��Is someone coming to do him harm as he lies helplessly in bed��

Then comes the morning he wakes up next to a dead body—and realizes his nightmare is just beginning...]]> 320 Laura Lippman 0062390074 Rachel 3 From the synopsis, we all know that our main character Gerry Anderson, is a novelist who is bedridden due to an injury. While bedridden and recovering Gerry has flashbacks from his life and strange things start happening around him. I suppose that we are not supposed to like Gerry, but I resonated with his injury and I felt a lot of compassion and empathy for him as his younger years were hurtful for him. I believe that Gerry had major trust issues, and rightfully so.
There was some suspense in this novel, and the big question everyone wanted to know is ‘Who is Dream Girl��?
I feel that Dream Girl could have been a great psychological suspense novel, but I believe it took a turn to focus on the #MeToo movement. So unfortunately with all the political references and puns (which didn’t focus on one party or the other), and the focus on #MeToo and women getting their redemption, I was left a little underwhelmed at the end of this book.
This was a first Laura Lippman novel for me, but I do plan on following up with some of her previous novels.

I would like to thank ŷ������ and William Morrow for an advanced reader’s edition of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Release date June 2021.]]> 3.18 2021
author: Laura Lippman
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.18
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2021/05/17
date added: 2021/05/17
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, giveaways
review:
I finished this book last night, and I still can’t come up with a proper review or rating. I really liked this book, and then I didn’t...
From the synopsis, we all know that our main character Gerry Anderson, is a novelist who is bedridden due to an injury. While bedridden and recovering Gerry has flashbacks from his life and strange things start happening around him. I suppose that we are not supposed to like Gerry, but I resonated with his injury and I felt a lot of compassion and empathy for him as his younger years were hurtful for him. I believe that Gerry had major trust issues, and rightfully so.
There was some suspense in this novel, and the big question everyone wanted to know is ‘Who is Dream Girl��?
I feel that Dream Girl could have been a great psychological suspense novel, but I believe it took a turn to focus on the #MeToo movement. So unfortunately with all the political references and puns (which didn’t focus on one party or the other), and the focus on #MeToo and women getting their redemption, I was left a little underwhelmed at the end of this book.
This was a first Laura Lippman novel for me, but I do plan on following up with some of her previous novels.

I would like to thank ŷ������ and William Morrow for an advanced reader’s edition of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Release date June 2021.
]]> 55004148 In this warm and moving anthology, a group of bestselling authors and writers pay tribute to legendary, larger-than-life��New York Times��bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank and her literary legacy.

Inspired by the title Dorothea Benton Frank planned for her next book��Reunion Beach—these close friends and colleagues channeled their creativity, admiration, and grief into stories and poems that celebrate this remarkable woman and her abiding love for the Lowcountry of her native South Carolina—a land of beauty, history, charm, and Gullah magic she so brilliantly brought to life in her acclaimed novels.��

From Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author, a sequel to Summer of ��69.

From Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author, comes a heartwarming, humorous interview from the hereafter with Pat Conroy and Dorothea Benton Frank, two beloved icons of Southern literature.

From Patti Callahan, bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis and Surviving Savannah, comes The Bridemaids, a story about a trip to the South Carolina beach.

From Mary Alice Monroe, New York Times bestselling author, Mother and Child Reunion, a heartwarming story set under the warm South Carolina sun.

Reunion Beach��also features letters, short stories, poems, and essays from:


Mary Norris, New York Times bestselling author and staff writer for The New Yorker

Cassandra King Conroy, bestselling and award-winning author of��Tell Me A Story

Nathalie Dupree, James Beard Award-winning cookbook��author
Marjory Wentworth, former Poet Laureate of South Carolina
Gervais Hagerty, author of In Polite Company

Jacqueline Bouvier Lee, Peter Frank, Victoria Peluso, and William Frank
Infused with Dorothea Benton Frank’s remarkable spirit,��Reunion Beach��is a literary homage and beautiful keepsake that keeps this dearly missed writer’s flame burning bright.]]> 392 Elin Hilderbrand 0063048930 Rachel 5 I hope to one day have friends and family love me the way they have loved Dorothea Benton Frank.
Reunion Beach is a tribute to the late Dorothea Benton Frank. In this book are memories and stories told about times with DBF, or how they met her. This book also includes many short stories from some wonderful authors that I typically do not read (but I can assure you these authors are now on my TBR list!). I especially loved ‘Postcards From Heaven�� by Adriana Trigiani.
In addition to the wonderful stories throughout this book, there are also recipes that are shared. In fact, I really want to make some cornbread after reading this.
If you are a fan of Dorothea Benton Frank, you will want to get yourself a copy of this beautiful book. The authors all did a wonderful job, and I am so glad that I had the pleasure of reading this anthology.

I would like to thank ŷ������ and HarperCollins/William Morrow for an ARC of this book. ]]> 3.59 2021
author: Elin Hilderbrand
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2021/04/29
date added: 2021/04/29
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, giveaways
review:
This book is a tiny treasure that I will cherish for a long time!
I hope to one day have friends and family love me the way they have loved Dorothea Benton Frank.
Reunion Beach is a tribute to the late Dorothea Benton Frank. In this book are memories and stories told about times with DBF, or how they met her. This book also includes many short stories from some wonderful authors that I typically do not read (but I can assure you these authors are now on my TBR list!). I especially loved ‘Postcards From Heaven�� by Adriana Trigiani.
In addition to the wonderful stories throughout this book, there are also recipes that are shared. In fact, I really want to make some cornbread after reading this.
If you are a fan of Dorothea Benton Frank, you will want to get yourself a copy of this beautiful book. The authors all did a wonderful job, and I am so glad that I had the pleasure of reading this anthology.

I would like to thank ŷ������ and HarperCollins/William Morrow for an ARC of this book.
]]> 55678417
When Jace Montgomery comes home late from entertaining clients, he discovers that his wife Tessa is missing. There’s broken glass at the back door. Clumps of her hair. Blood. The cops in their small New Jersey town have him pegged as a suspect, especially after he explodes at a reporter during a press conference. Jace maintains his innocence despite the mounting evidence against him, but when a coworker he's accused of having an affair with also disappears and a search warrant turns up an illegal gun in Jace’s home, all signs point to him as the culprit. What is he really hiding?

Meanwhile, Tessa finally feels safe, having set up her husband to take the fall for her disappearance—and someone close to him is helping her put him away. Breaking her lifelong pattern of bad men is only one hurdle she has to overcome. The other is outrunning her secret past while trying to stay alive, especially when those in her new life aren’t who they appear to be.

Jace’s lies don't add up and the authorities are closing in. Will Tessa’s old life catch up to her and drag her back to a life of abuse before justice is served?��

Finding Tessa is a smart domestic thriller where nothing can be taken at face value, where every twist reveals a deadlier secret than the one before. Fans of Gillian Flynn, Samantha Downing, and incisive, fresh psychological suspense won't want to miss it.��]]> 320 Jaime Lynn Hendricks 1613162200 Rachel 4 I read quite a bit (maybe too many) of domestic suspense/thrillers, and I’m usually pretty good at figuring them out. This book threw me for a loop more times than I can count! Too many questionable characters and situations throughout this story!
If you are a thriller fan as I am, I highly recommend reading Finding Tessa. You will zoom through the pages and maybe even stay up way past your bedtime to get to the end of this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for my advanced digital review copy for my honest review.]]> 3.78 2021
author: Jaime Lynn Hendricks
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/04/23
date added: 2021/04/23
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
What can I say about this clever, twisty-turny, fast paced debut novel by Jaime Lynn Hendricks -other than the fact that you need to add Finding Tessa to your TBR list immediately!
I read quite a bit (maybe too many) of domestic suspense/thrillers, and I’m usually pretty good at figuring them out. This book threw me for a loop more times than I can count! Too many questionable characters and situations throughout this story!
If you are a thriller fan as I am, I highly recommend reading Finding Tessa. You will zoom through the pages and maybe even stay up way past your bedtime to get to the end of this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for my advanced digital review copy for my honest review.
]]> 55711715
Until one morning, when they wake up to find their porch has been pelted with eggs. It’s a prank, Thomas insists; the work of a few out-of-control kids. But when a smoke bomb is tossed on their front lawn, and their car’s tires are punctured, the family begins to worry. Surveillance cameras show nothing but grainy images of shadowy figures in hoodies. And the police dismiss the attacks, insisting they’re just the work of bored teenagers. Unable to identify the perpetrators, the Adlers are helpless as the assaults escalate into violence, and worse. And each new violation brings with it a growing fear. Because everyone in the Adler family is keeping a secret—not just from the outside world, but from each other. And secrets can be very dangerous��.

This twisty, addictively page-turning suspense novel about a perfect family’s perfect façade will keep you turning pages until its explosive ending.]]> 352 Robyn Harding 1982169397 Rachel 5 This book was told in four POV’s by each of the Adler family members. Who was holding the biggest secret? Each chapter brought you closer and closer to the finale of this show stopper!
One of my favorite things about a book are short chapters (which this book has), and the ability to never drag on or become mundane. This book had everything that I wished for, plus the story was absolutely fantastic!
The Perfect Family is my first Robyn Harding read, but it will not be my last. I currently plan on reading all of her other books as I write this review. Do I recommend The Perfect Family? You bet I do! Put this on your list if you love suspense/thriller novels as much as I do.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this advanced digital review copy in exchange for my honest review.]]> 3.49 2021
author: Robyn Harding
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.49
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2021/04/01
date added: 2021/04/01
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
O.M.G! This book was insane (but in a good way)! I literally could not turn the pages fast enough! If you are looking for a fast, compulsive read- then you are going to love The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding.
This book was told in four POV’s by each of the Adler family members. Who was holding the biggest secret? Each chapter brought you closer and closer to the finale of this show stopper!
One of my favorite things about a book are short chapters (which this book has), and the ability to never drag on or become mundane. This book had everything that I wished for, plus the story was absolutely fantastic!
The Perfect Family is my first Robyn Harding read, but it will not be my last. I currently plan on reading all of her other books as I write this review. Do I recommend The Perfect Family? You bet I do! Put this on your list if you love suspense/thriller novels as much as I do.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this advanced digital review copy in exchange for my honest review.
]]> 56268810 Dare Me meets Black Swan and Luckiest Girl Alive in a captivating, voice-driven debut novel about a trio of ballerinas who meet as students at the Paris Opera Ballet School.

Fourteen years ago, Delphine abandoned her prestigious soloist spot at the Paris Opera Ballet for a new life in St. Petersburg––taking with her a secret that could upend the lives of her best friends, fellow dancers Lindsay and Margaux. Now 36 years old, Delphine has returned to her former home and to the legendary Palais Garnier Opera House, to choreograph the ballet that will kickstart the next phase of her career––and, she hopes, finally make things right with her former friends. But Delphine quickly discovers that things have changed while she's been away...and some secrets can't stay buried forever.

Moving between the trio's adolescent years and the present day, The Ballerinas explores the complexities of female friendship, the dark drive towards physical perfection in the name of artistic expression, the double-edged sword of ambition and passion, and the sublimated rage that so many women hold inside––all culminating in a twist you won't see coming, with magnetic characters you won't soon forget.]]> 304 Rachel Kapelke-Dale 1250274230 Rachel 5 For me, I fell in love with the beautiful cover at first, and then I became intrigued with the idea of reading about dancers (ballerinas). With all the books that I have read, this was the first that told the story of ballerinas. In The Ballerinas, we learned about the lives of three ballerinas named Delphine, Margaux, and Lindsay. Delphine was the main narrator/character, and I just could not get enough of her story. I resonated with her feelings and what she went through in life so much. I honestly could not turn the pages fast enough, I wanted to be there in their world.
The Ballerinas deals with many issues that all women go through in their lifetime, and this is why I feel that this book is going to touch so many. I do however feel that the ending was rushed a little bit (although that could be me being greedy because I wanted more), and I didn’t get too much closure on one of the male characters named Jock. With that being said, I still highly recommend reading this book. I guarantee it will end up being one of your favorites! Rachel Kapelke-Dale is a new author to me, but her writing is outstanding! I’m definitely looking forward to future reads from her.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martins Press for my advanced review copy of this book. The Ballerinas is to be published in December 2021.]]> 3.41 2021
author: Rachel Kapelke-Dale
name: Rachel
average rating: 3.41
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2021/03/27
date added: 2021/03/27
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, from-publisher, netgalley
review:
My prediction is that The Ballerinas will be book of the year! I would definitely add this book to your TBR list right now, as you will not want to miss this one!
For me, I fell in love with the beautiful cover at first, and then I became intrigued with the idea of reading about dancers (ballerinas). With all the books that I have read, this was the first that told the story of ballerinas. In The Ballerinas, we learned about the lives of three ballerinas named Delphine, Margaux, and Lindsay. Delphine was the main narrator/character, and I just could not get enough of her story. I resonated with her feelings and what she went through in life so much. I honestly could not turn the pages fast enough, I wanted to be there in their world.
The Ballerinas deals with many issues that all women go through in their lifetime, and this is why I feel that this book is going to touch so many. I do however feel that the ending was rushed a little bit (although that could be me being greedy because I wanted more), and I didn’t get too much closure on one of the male characters named Jock. With that being said, I still highly recommend reading this book. I guarantee it will end up being one of your favorites! Rachel Kapelke-Dale is a new author to me, but her writing is outstanding! I’m definitely looking forward to future reads from her.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martins Press for my advanced review copy of this book. The Ballerinas is to be published in December 2021.
]]> 56928561
To the world, Mia Thornton is invisible—a quiet, timid preschool teacher. People would never guess that she found the will to dig her way out of a locked shed when she was just six years old. That she never saw her mother again.

Now, all Mia longs for is a normal life and friends to call her own. But when she runs into a group of colleagues one evening, she discovers that, once again, she’s been excluded. Stung at the rejection, she pockets the keys of one of the women in a petty act of revenge. Celeste Cooper is fearless, pretty, popular—everything Mia wishes she could be.

The next day, Celeste is reported missing. And Mia realizes that it might have been her fault. Wracked with guilt, she joins the search, determined to make up for her mistake. But as she grows closer to Celeste’s family, Mia can’t help but feel she’s being watched��

What if Celeste’s disappearance has more to do with Mia than she realizes? And if she keeps digging, does she risk being dragged back into the dark forever?

Prepare to be gripped by the pulse-pounding new psychological thriller from USA Today bestselling author Carey Baldwin. Fans of The Wife Between Us, The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl will be totally addicted to Her First Mistake.]]> 315 Carey Baldwin Rachel 4 Carey Baldwin is a new author to me, but I am definitely looking forward to reading future novels from her. I also suggest reading I Know What You Did, to anyone who enjoys suspenseful thrillers as much as I do. This book was not an easy one to figure out!

I would also like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced review copy. I Know What You Did is to be published April 30, 2021. ]]> 4.00 2021
author: Carey Baldwin
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/03/20
date added: 2021/03/20
shelves: netgalley, from-publisher, advanced-reader-copy
review:
I experienced major anxiety while reading this thriller! There was so much going on between the past and present life of the main character, Mia. There were also so many times throughout this story that I just wanted to scream, “Mia, what are you doing?!�� Be prepared for a wild ride with this read!
Carey Baldwin is a new author to me, but I am definitely looking forward to reading future novels from her. I also suggest reading I Know What You Did, to anyone who enjoys suspenseful thrillers as much as I do. This book was not an easy one to figure out!

I would also like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced review copy. I Know What You Did is to be published April 30, 2021.
]]> 54870208
The house may look respectable on the outside, but inside it’s a literal and figurative mess: clutter on every surface, IMPEACHMENT: Now More Than Ever bumper stickers on the doors, cereal and takeout for dinner. And even more troublesome (were Mary Jane’s mother to know, which she does not): The doctor is a psychiatrist who has cleared his summer for one important job—helping a famous rock star dry out. A week after Mary Jane starts, the rock star and his movie star wife move in.

Over the course of the summer, Mary Jane introduces her new household to crisply ironed clothes and a family dinner schedule, and has a front-row seat to a liberal world of sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll (not to mention group therapy). Caught between the lifestyle she’s always known and the future she’s only just realized is possible, Mary Jane will arrive at September with a new idea about what she wants out of life, and what kind of person she’s going to be.��]]> 320 Jessica Anya Blau 0063052296 Rachel 4
Thank you so much to ŷ������ and Custom House for my Advanced Reader Edition. Release date is May 2021- you will love this! ]]> 4.09 2021
author: Jessica Anya Blau
name: Rachel
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2021/01/12
date added: 2021/01/12
shelves: advanced-reader-copy, giveaways
review:
I feel like this book was just so refreshing! I loved every minute of this book, and I love the nostalgic feeling that it has left me with. I also can’t begin to tell you how many laugh out loud moments I had throughout this book! Mary Jane is a must read for all of us wanting to take a walk down memory lane and remember the things it took to find ourselves. My only complaint is that I am left with wanting more of this story. I already miss Mary Jane, Mrs. Cone and Izzy! I truly hope that there is a sequel coming to this (or maybe a movie?).

Thank you so much to ŷ������ and Custom House for my Advanced Reader Edition. Release date is May 2021- you will love this!
]]>