Goodreads

Release date: February 17, 2026

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

A whip-smart and darkly funny crime novel—perfect for fans of My Sister, the Serial Killer and The Maid—that follows a wife and mother with a deadly secret that she must suppress if she wants to maintain her picture-perfect façade.

Meet Lalla Rook. Lalla has a lot on her plate: She needs to guarantee her husband makes partner, secure her dream house in Hampstead, and get her daughter into a prestigious prep school. And on the afternoon she stabs a stranger seven times after he breaks into her living room, she has a four-year-old’s birthday party to host.

With an unambitious partner, two demanding children, and a barely adequate large house in a nice (if not quite fashionable) part of town, Lalla’s life isn’t quite perfect yet. And she can’t pretend she hasn’t missed the adrenaline rush that comes with transgressing. Besides, as a wife and mother, she’s already an expert multi-tasker. So, disposing of a body, framing a friend, and being the world’s best mother can easily be managed alongside the usual domestic minutiae.

It’s just that her husband Stephen seems distracted, her daughter’s drowning of the class hamster is affecting her academic future, and then there is the unexpected intruder. Who is this man and what does he want from her? Because Lalla has a past she’d rather keep hidden—and the sudden appearance of the police means that avoiding them will be yet another task to cross off her to-do list.

Funny, calculating, hypercompetent, and ambitious, Lalla is your next favorite antiheroine. Just don’t mention it to her mother-in-law.

Review:

In A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage by M. K. Oliver, domestic ambition meets deliciously dark chaos. Lalla Rook is determined to curate the perfect life, the Hampstead house, partner track husband, prestigious prep school acceptance, and she approaches those goals with the same ruthless efficiency she uses to dispose of a body. From the opening shock, the novel makes it clear this is not your typical suburban thriller. It’s satirical, sharp, and wickedly funny, leaning fully into its antiheroine’s skewed logic.

Lalla is manipulative, cunning, and endlessly surprising. I truly never knew what she would do next, and that unpredictability is half the fun. Her behavior is often shocking, sometimes outrageous, but always entertaining. The humor is dark and cheeky, and the tone balances crime with biting social commentary about status, motherhood, and the performance of perfection. It feels both over the top and completely self aware in the best way.

This is a wickedly fun read for anyone who loves morally gray women who refuse to apologize. Lalla isn’t asking for your approval—she’s asking if you’ve RSVP’d to the birthday party she’s hosting… right after handling a minor homicide inconvenience.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: February 24, 2026

Publisher: Minotaur

Genre: Mystery/Thriller, Horror

Synopsis:

Barbie meets Scream with a 90s nostalgia twist in this horror romp from Bless Your Heart author Lindy Ryan.

Horror author Jill has just moved to suburban New Jersey, hoping to fit in with the new PTA moms and maybe not weird everyone out with her Final Girl coffee mug. You know. Make some real friends.

But then a plastic face-masked serial killer begins slashing their way through town, one overly made-up mom at a time. The police are incredulous. The moms are indignant. And Jill is slowly wrapped into a killer’s murderous spree, until she might just be the last woman standing.

A delightfully murderous novel that is equal parts scathing and salacious, Dollface will win you over with its gossip and gore, one body at a time.

Review:

Dollface by Lindy Ryan is a wildly entertaining horror romp that leans fully into camp, nostalgia, and gleeful gore. I ended up doing a mix of print and audio, but I found myself gravitating toward the audiobook thanks to Stephanie Nemeth-Parker’s narration. She’s a consistent standout for me, and once again she delivers a performance that’s engaging, captivating, and perfectly attuned to the story’s tone. Pair that with a premise that blends suburban mom culture, slasher vibes, and a Barbie meets Scream aesthetic, and I was hooked almost immediately.

This is very much “light horror” in the best way: strange, fun, and just gory enough to satisfy without tipping into overwhelming territory. The story revels in its 90s horror movie energy, complete with a plastic faced serial killer, PTA politics, and a sharp sense of satire aimed at suburban expectations of motherhood and femininity. While some of the twists didn’t fully surprise me, the ride itself was such a blast that it honestly didn’t matter, I was having too much fun.

If you love horror that doesn’t take itself too seriously, especially older slasher films with a wink and a nod, Dollface is an easy recommendation. It’s campy, chaotic, and unapologetically entertaining, balancing gossip and gore in a way that feels both playful and pointed. This one is perfect for readers who want their horror fun, fast paced, and just a little bit unhinged.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Release date: February 3, 2026

Publisher: St. Martins

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

A deft and immersive psychological suspense debut about a luxury party planner who becomes obsessed with a woman she encounters in a hospital waiting room.

Cady has worked hard to have a good life. She has a thriving luxury event-planning business, the man she’s loved since she was seventeen, and a social calendar she can barely keep up with. She also has Dana, her identical twin, her beyond best friend, her most trusted confidante. When Cady gets a call that Dana has been in a serious accident and arrives moments too late to say goodbye, her world falls apart.

But to Cady’s family’s growing concern and confusion, it’s not Dana’s death that consumes her. It’s Morgan, a grieving mother Cady encountered in the hospital waiting room, the day her sister died. It can’t be a coincidence, that they both experienced tragedy at the same moment, in the same place—Cady doesn’t believe in coincidences. Instead, she is convinced that she must help this stranger overcome her tragedy, in order to come to terms with her own.

Or…is there more to it? Is it possible that Cady wants something else from Morgan? Something she can’t even admit to herself?

Slyly twisted and deeply provocative, Good Intentionscaptures the moral ambiguity that can arise in the face of impossible choices. Like the aftermath of a car accident—and against your better judgment—you won’t be able to look away.

Review:

Good Intentions is an impressive psychological suspense debut that reads like the work of a seasoned author, its confident, emotionally sharp, and quietly devastating. Walz explores grief, obsession, and moral ambiguity through Cady, a woman whose seemingly perfect life implodes after the sudden death of her identical twin sister. What follows isn’t a straightforward grief spiral, but something far more unsettling: Cady fixates on Morgan, a grieving mother she briefly encounters in a hospital waiting room, and convinces herself that helping this stranger is the key to surviving her own loss.

Cady is a fascinating and deeply flawed protagonist. Watching her unravel is like witnessing a slow motion train wreck—you know the decisions she’s making are irrational, even dangerous, yet you can’t look away. Walz captures the desperation and heartache driving Cady’s actions with empathy, even as the story grows increasingly uncomfortable. The tension lies not just in what Cady does, but in why she does it, forcing the reader to sit with questions about control, projection, and the thin line between compassion and obsession.

The ending is sharp, surprising, and deeply thought provoking, pushing the novel beyond standard psychological suspense into something more morally complex. Good Intentions asks an unsettling question: how far can someone go in the name of grief? Does having “good intentions” actually matter? It’s emotional, unsettling, and quietly devastating in the best way, marking Walz as an author to watch.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to mean over the top grand gestures or sugary sweet love stories. Sometimes the most romantic books are the ones that feel intimate, thoughtful, and deeply human, the kind of stories that linger long after the last page.

These romance novels feel like receiving a Valentine in book form: tender, emotional, romantic in quiet ways, and rooted in real connection. Whether you’re craving devotion, second chances, or love that unfolds gently, these picks are perfect for February reading.

💌 Wrote You a Love Letter

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

This tender, time bending romance is a quiet exploration of grief, fate, and the kind of love that finds you even when the timing feels impossibly wrong. Through gentle magical realism and deeply emotional storytelling, Ashley Poston creates a love story that feels intimate and thoughtful, unfolding with patience and care. It’s the kind of romance that lingers long after the final page, reminding you that love isn’t about when it happens, but about how deeply it’s felt.

Check it out here

💘 Obsessed, But Gentle

Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle

A soft, cozy slow burn that proves devotion doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful, Twice Shy is all about showing up in the smallest, most meaningful ways. This romance unfolds gently, built on kindness, quiet support, and emotional safety rather than big declarations. Watching these two characters grow closer feels tender and deeply satisfying, making this a perfect pick if you love romances where love feels steady, sincere, and earned.

Check it out here

⏳ Right Person, Right Timing

The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce

Second chance romances don’t get more emotionally grounded than this. The Ex Vows explores what happens when love is real, but life gets in the way. Set against the backdrop of a destination wedding gone wrong, this story balances heartfelt reflection with romantic tension as two people confront whether their past love still has a future. It’s mature, emotional, and deeply rewarding for readers who love romances about growth, forgiveness, and choosing each other again.

Check it out here

💞 Feels Like Being Chosen

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

At its heart, Book Lovers is a romance about being truly seen and loved for exactly who you are. Emily Henry delivers sharp banter and emotional depth in equal measure, crafting a relationship built on honesty, mutual respect, and shared ambition. Rather than forcing either character into a role they don’t fit, this story celebrates choosing each other without compromise, making it one of the most satisfying and quietly romantic love stories out there.

Check it out here

💋 Super slow burn, but Still Romantic

Ready or Not by Cara Bastone

This emotionally rich romance blends real life complexity with undeniable chemistry, creating a story that feels both intimate and deeply heartfelt. Ready or Not explores unexpected love, found family, and personal growth with warmth and sensitivity, allowing the romance to develop naturally over time. The emotional connection is just as compelling as the attraction, making this a perfect pick if you want heat that’s grounded in genuine care and emotional depth.

Check it out here

🫶 Found Family Love

The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis

Wrapped in warmth, community, and second chances, The Bright Spot is as much about found family as it is about romance. Jill Shalvis creates a world where love extends beyond the couple, offering comfort, healing, and belonging in unexpected ways. With its cozy setting and heartfelt connections, this story feels like a reminder that love doesn’t exist in isolation—it grows stronger when surrounded by people who show up and stay.

Check it out here

If you’re looking for romance that feels meaningful rather than manufactured, these books deliver love in its most heartfelt forms. Whether you’re reading solo, gifting to a friend, or planning a cozy Valentine’s night in, each of these stories offers something special. You can find the entire list here.

Goodreads

Release date: February 10, 2026

Publisher: Park Row/Harlequin Audio

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Connie can’t wait to have all her daughters back home for the holidays. It’s not just the excitement of the girls being together under one roof; uni student Fran is bringing a new boyfriend to stay. The empty nest will once again be full of friends, family and young love.

Yet from the moment she sees Zac, Connie feels a deep unease. Zac reminds her of the worst mistake she has ever a man whose charm and good looks nearly destroyed her marriage. Then, Fran announces she’s pregnant.

Reeling from Fran’s news and terrified that her past might threaten her family’s future, Connie desperately tries to navigate a path forward. But there’s a much greater menace looming, because she’s not the only one who has something to hide. Someone in the house has another devastating secret. A deception which will put everyone Connie loves in shocking danger, and one of them will pay the ultimate price.

Review:

Our Beautiful Mess by Adele Parks was a solid, absorbing read for me, albeit one that leans much more into slow burn domestic drama than pulse pounding thriller. I read some in print and listened on audio, and while both formats worked well, the audiobook really elevated the experience. This is a deeply character driven story focused on family dynamics, long buried secrets, and the quiet, creeping tension that comes from what’s left unsaid. If you’re expecting nonstop twists, this might feel measured, but if you enjoy layered suspense built on relationships and emotional stakes, this one delivers.

The structure is one of the book’s biggest strengths. Told through multiple POVs over a “11 days before the end” countdown, it creates a looming sense of inevitability that keeps the tension simmering throughout. The ensemble cast gives the story a true bird’s eye view, allowing readers to see how secrets, betrayals, and hidden agendas overlap and collide. At times the pacing does feel a bit drawn out, but it’s clear this is intentional, Parks stretches the moments to let the dread settle in, making the payoff feel earned rather than rushed.

On audio, Kristin Atherton and Gary Turner are excellent narrators, bringing nuance and emotional depth to an already compelling story. I’m always a fan of audiobooks with accents, and their performances were engaging, immersive, and perfectly suited to the tone of the novel. Overall, Our Beautiful Mess is less about shock value and more about psychological tension, moral complexity, and the messy realities of family life, a thoughtful, suspenseful listen that proves quieter drama can be just as gripping.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: February 10, 2026

Publisher: Crooked Lane

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Still recovering from a devastating breakup, 34-year-old Savannah Mitchell has finally managed to put her life back together when she gets the shock of her life—after a brief fling with a man named Max, she is pregnant.

When she gets in touch to tell him, he reveals that he’s just gotten back together with his ex, Madison, and he will need time to break it to her. Surprisingly, Madison isn’t upset—in fact, she’s excited, and wants to help.

Max insists Madison has the best of intentions, but Savannah finds her efforts—popping by uninvited, demanding lifestyle changes, and pretty much trying to take over the pregnancy—anything but helpful. When Savannah finally stands up for herself, Madison’s treatment of her goes from casually cruel to downright dangerous.

All Savannah wanted to do was form a friendly co-parenting relationship with the father of her child—but his new girlfriend obviously has much more sinister plans in mind.

She has no plans to co-parent at all.

Review:

The Better Mother by Jennifer Van Der Kleut was exactly the kind of wildly entertaining, can’t look away domestic thriller I love most, the kind where you keep muttering “what the actual hell am I reading” while immediately turning the page. From the jump, the premise hooks you, but it’s the execution that really shines: fast paced, sharply written, and dripping with unease. I tore through this in just a couple sittings because the tension never lets up and the story constantly escalates in ways that feel both inevitable and completely bananas.

Savannah’s situation—unexpected pregnancy, messy emotional fallout, and an overly involved girlfriend who insists she “just wants to help”quickly slides from uncomfortable to deeply sinister. Madison is the kind of character you know is bad news but can’t stop watching, and the mounting sense of suspicion and dread is deliciously effective. The author does an excellent job of turning everyday interactions into something chilling, making even seemingly small moments feel loaded with threat.

This is a pure popcorn thriller in the best way: dark, sharp, and wildly fun, filled with awful characters you’ll absolutely despise, and that’s half the joy. If you love plot driven suspense, morally questionable people, and stories that feel like a modern mashup of Fatal Attraction and The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, this one delivers. Easily one of the more entertaining and compulsively readable thrillers I’ve picked up lately.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: February 17, 2026

Publisher: William Morrow

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

From the critically acclaimed author of No Exit and The Last Word comes a story of two friends who embark on an ill-fated caving expedition—and the dark truth of what happens deep underground.

After years of excuses, Tess has finally agreed to go caving with her best friend Allie. Their lives have diverged sharply since high school—Allie is a self-made travel influencer, while Tess is a shy (and claustrophobic) legal assistant struggling to pay for law school. Maybe she’s a little jealous of Allie’s globe-trotting life. Who wouldn’t be?

As Tess and Allie descend into the depths, they realize they’re not alone. A stranger who claims to be a fellow caver harasses them. Confident, take-no-shit Allie insults the guy—and he retaliates. Soon, Tess is trapped inside a narrow crawl space hundreds of feet underground, fighting to stay alive.

Twenty-four hours later, as a hospitalized Tess recounts her harrowing story of survival, the detective interviewing her shares new and shocking secrets about Allie’s true past. Together, they begin to suspect the brutal attack wasn’t so random after all.

Who was Allie, really? Why did this man target them? And did Tess really leave the danger behind when she escaped the cave?

Review:

Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams scared the absolute shit out of me—and I loved every second of it. This is claustrophobic, skin crawling, heart pounding suspense that crawls straight under your skin and refuses to leave. From the moment Tess and Allie descend into the cave, the tension is relentless. Narrow tunnels, total darkness, limited air, and the constant awareness of being trapped underground made this almost physically uncomfortable to read. I will simply never go near a cave again (not that I was planning to, but now it’s a hard no 😂).

What makes this even more effective is how tightly Adams weaves character and plot together. Tess’s claustrophobia and insecurity clash perfectly with Allie’s bold, confident influencer persona, creating emotional friction that feels real and layered. The alternating timeline (between the cave ordeal and Tess recounting events afterward) adds another layer of unease, especially as unsettling truths about Allie’s past begin to surface. The twists are genuinely surprising, at times downright shocking, and they completely reframe what you think you know about what happened underground.

Short, fast paced chapters keep the momentum brutal and unrelenting, making this nearly impossible to put down. This is a smart, complex, and incredibly well plotted thriller that delivers on both psychological tension and survival horror. If you like books that make your pulse race and leave you staring at the wall afterward, Her Last Breath absolutely delivers.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

February 10, 2026

Publisher: Ballantine

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

In this propulsive debut, a Buffalo Bills cheerleader will stop at nothing to solve the disappearance of her best friend and teammate, navigating the dark underbelly of a hardscrabble city, the grime and glamour of professional cheerleading, and her own tangled family history.

Virginia is a Jill—a professional Buffalo Bills cheerleader—living the life she’s always dreamed of. She spends her weekdays practicing, her weekends cheering, and her nights hopping between events and bars and clubs with her close-knit band of teammates, especially her best friend, Jeanine, whose dynamic friendship has given Virginia confidence in spades and allowed her to put aside her troubled past with her sister, Laura. But one Sunday, Jeanine fails to show up for a game, and all her calls and texts go unanswered. Aided by a worried network of Jills, ex-boyfriends, and seedy fixtures of Buffalo’s criminal underground, Virginia embarks on an investigation into Jeanine’s disappearance. But as her search grows increasingly dangerous and spirals into obsession, disturbing questions about who Jeanine really is begin to emerge. Soon, Virginia finds herself wondering how well she knows her friend, if she can trust the people and institutions she thought were protecting her, and whether—when trying to save the people she cares about most—she’s capable of saving herself, too.
Part bingeable mystery, part character-driven tale of a woman claiming her own power in systems built by and for men, The Jills is a sharply observed, witty, and poignant novel about the stories that constrain us and the healing power of sisterhood.

Review:

The Jills by Karen Parkman had all the right ingredients to be a hit for me, which honestly made the letdown sting a little more. A professional NFL cheerleader at the center of a mystery? A behind the scenes look at the culture, pressure, and sisterhood of a team like the Buffalo Bills Jills? Sign me up immediately. And to be fair, those elements were the strongest part of the book. The cheerleading world felt researched, textured, and genuinely interesting — especially if you, like me, have spent years watching Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team and love that mix of glamour, grit, and emotional investment.

Unfortunately, the mystery itself never fully came together. The plot felt overly long and scattered, somehow anticlimactic and wildly over the top at the same time. What started as a compelling disappearance spiraled into something increasingly chaotic, with twists that felt less shocking and more exhausting. There were moments that really worked and flashes of what this story could have been, but the overall execution felt unfocused and unsatisfying. I wanted sharper tension, cleaner answers, and a stronger payoff, especially given such a promising premise. In the end, The Jills lands at a generous three stars for me: parts I genuinely enjoyed, but not a mystery that ever fully stuck the landing.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: February 3, 2026

Publisher: Poisoned Pen

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Sisters? Forever. Friends? NEVER. Who knew a reunion weekend could be so deadly?

Meet the sorority sisters of Theta Gamma 

Roxy Callahan Gentry, the ruthless former sorority president and current hostess who has painstakingly choreographed every detail of this weekend—even matching the cocktails to her couture—to prove that she remains their undisputed queenAmelia Dell, the widow drenched in old money and alcohol, with her big pot-stirring spoon and uninvited boy-toy in towJamie Vale, the double-legacy pledge, straight-A student with no sparkle, now a top cardiologist with a picture-perfect family—and a well-guarded bad habitBeth Harrison, the scholarship student who never quite fit in and was only admitted because her best friend Sunny insisted that the two were a package dealSunny Spencer, the carefree and beloved friend to all, or so it seemed—until she wasn’tThey’ve been summoned to Roxy’s luxurious Palm Springs vacation home to celebrate the engagement of her son to Beth’s daughter. But the refurbished 1920s estate is eerily reminiscent of the hotel where tragedy struck during Spring Break twenty-five years ago. Long-simmering tensions and shocking secrets begin bubbling to the surface like bodies—because while the weekend was supposed to be about celebrating the future, it’s not so easy to bury the past…

For fans of Shari Lapena, Mary Kubica, and B. A. Paris, We Were Never Friends is an unputdownable, riveting train wreck full of dark humor and bad behavior.

Review:

I usually have a great time with Kaira Rouda’s brand of glossy, over the top domestic thrillers, so I went into We Were Never Friends expecting campy chaos and deliciously unlikable women. While the setup has all the right ingredients — a luxe Palm Springs estate, a sorority reunion, long buried secrets, and a locked room style mystery — the execution didn’t quite land for me. The story is undeniably fast paced and dramatic, and it keeps the pages turning, but much of the tension felt manufactured rather than earned.

The biggest issue was the lack of depth across the multiple POVs. With so many catty, antagonistic women sharing the spotlight, it became difficult to distinguish their voices or motivations in a meaningful way. I don’t need characters to be likable , I love a “love to hate them” cast, but these characters weren’t particularly fun to dislike, just frustrating. Add in some noticeable plot holes and increasingly silly twists, and the story veered into ridiculous territory instead of leaning into sharp satire or dark humor. This may still work for readers who want pure, soap opera level drama with zero downtime, but for me, it fell short of what I usually enjoy from this author.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.