Ungodly Rich by Katharine McGee

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A glamorous modern mythology of billionaire gods, betrayal, and toxic family power games

Goodreads

Release date: July 7, 2026

Publisher: Crown

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

Old gods, new rules. New York Times bestselling author Katharine McGee puts a modern-day twist on ancient mythology in this bold reimagining of the Greek gods as a family of billionaires—with all the messy drama that entails.

When Julia Dodds meets Harry Adams, love hits her like a lightning bolt. He’s adventurous, charismatic, and impossibly handsome. Little does Julia know that her boyfriend has left out a few key details. His name isn’t Harry: it’s Ares, as in the ancient god of war. His mother is Hera, and his father is Zeus. 

Soon, Julia is caught up in a world of wealth and privilege as she joins Harry at a lavish family reunion. Except these billionaires don’t just have wealth—they have divine powers. And the moment she steps onto their private island, Julia becomes their latest target.

It’s no secret that the Gods love to meddle, and when it comes to Julia, Harry’s immortal relatives each have their own agenda. Harry’s mother, Hera, will do anything to protect her own. Harry’s sister-in-law Aphrodite has a deeply personal reason for hating Julia, and tasks Hermes, keeper of family secrets, with digging up dirt. Meanwhile, Hades has spent years trying to upend Zeus’s power—and now he finally sees an opportunity to strike.

Set against a globe-trotting backdrop that sweeps from New York’s exclusive private clubs to the wilds of New Zealand to the gated estates of the British aristocracy, Ungodly Rich is a story of love, revenge, secrets, sex, and the most ancient motivator of all: family.

Review:

This is peak rich people behaving badly energy, but elevated into something even more chaotic and entertaining. It takes a bit to settle into—there are a lot of characters and the double names can feel overwhelming at first—but once it clicks, it really clicks.

And you don’t need Greek mythology knowledge at all. I definitely didn’t remember most of it, and it didn’t matter. The story gives you everything you need in a way that feels accessible and fun rather than heavy.

What makes this so addictive is the constant shifting power dynamics. Everyone has secrets. Everyone has leverage. Everyone is playing a longer game than they admit. And Julia’s POV works perfectly as the outsider perspective slowly realizing she’s stepped into something way bigger, messier, and more dangerous than expected.

It’s dramatic, addictive, and fully committed to its own chaotic world. I really hope we get more from this universe because the setup has huge potential, it’s really built to be a new series. 

Perfect for Readers Who Love

  • Modern mythology with a fresh, contemporary twist
  • Toxic rich family drama with constant betrayal
  • Multi POV ensemble storytelling
  • High gloss, soap opera style fiction
  • Beach reads with romance, chaos, and power plays

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Last Night Was Killer by Mary Pauline Lowry

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A chaotic, laugh out loud mystery about motherhood, memory gaps, and waking up with a dead body in your car

Goodreads

Release date: July 7, 2026

Publisher: William Morrow

Genre; Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

A suspenseful, bighearted, and laugh-out-loud story of a single mom trying to do it all—including solve a murder she may or may not have committed…

When Tilly Turner signed up for an introductory pole-dancing class, she was looking for a distraction. Reeling from her mother’s passing, and with her career as a stand-up comedian in ruins, Tilly has just moved back to the Idaho hometown she was desperate to leave, with her twin daughters in tow.

But Tilly gets more than she bargained for after a night out with her new pole-dancing pals. She wakes to a raging hangover, no memory of the evening before, and a dead body in the trunk of her car.

Who was the dead man? And more importantly, who killed him? Tilly has no alibi and needs answers. But investigating a murder is complicated, especially with an old frenemy circling, childcare plans falling through, and pole-dancing classes to attend. And don’t even mention the sexy ATF agent who she’s trying (and failing) to keep at arm’s length.

As Tilly races to solve the mystery before the police come knocking, she finds herself implicated in a larger plot that includes political subterfuge and arms dealing. But who knows—maybe busting a criminal enterprise will be just the shake-up she needs.

Balancing both heart and hilarity, and with a witty take on the struggles of modern motherhood, Last Night Was Killer is a charming introduction to the most unlikely—and likable—of sleuths.

Review:

I did not expect this book to be this funny. Not “light chuckle while reading in bed” funny. More like “why am I laughing at a woman actively unraveling a potential murder while dealing with childcare falling apart” funny.

Tilly is the kind of character who feels like she is operating just slightly outside of control at all times, which is either going to be exhausting or deeply relatable depending on your personality. For me, it landed in the second category. She reads like a real woman who is trying to hold everything together and is doing it in the most chaotic possible order. And honestly, that’s the charm here.

The setup—waking up after a pole dancing class she barely remembers with a dead body in her trunk—is outrageous in the best way. But what kept me reading wasn’t just the premise. It was Tilly’s voice. Mary Pauline Lowry leans fully into wit without losing emotional grounding, which is what keeps this from becoming pure absurdity.

There’s also something interesting happening underneath the humor. The book quietly threads in grief, motherhood fatigue, identity collapse, and the pressure of starting over when life doesn’t really give you a clean reset. Tilly’s return to her hometown feels less like a comeback and more like a slow motion collision with everything she tried to outrun.

Also yes, this is funny. But it’s also not cute. There’s a darker current running through the mystery, and once the political and arms dealing threads start tightening, you realize this isn’t just “oops I maybe committed a murder” territory. It escalates in a way that keeps the story from staying comfortably in comedic mystery land.

That said, I wouldn’t call this a traditional thriller either. It sits in this weird, very specific middle space: thriller readers will recognize the stakes, but the delivery is lighter, messier, more emotionally chaotic than procedural or high intensity suspense. Which is exactly why it works.

It feels like reading someone trying to solve a crisis while also trying to survive their own life at the same time.

This is one of those books that lives or dies on whether you connect with the voice—and I did.

It’s not a clean mystery. It’s not a traditional thriller. It’s something looser, funnier, and a little more emotionally tangled than that and somehow, that’s exactly why it works.

Perfect for Readers Who Love

  • fast-paced mysteries with a strong comedic voice
  • chaotic, messy heroines trying to hold life together
  • thrillers with lighter, character driven delivery
  • stories about burnout, reinvention, and starting over
  • books where things spiral out of control in the most human way possible 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

June Reading Wrap Up: My Favorite Books, Summer Recommendations & What I’m Reading Next

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From five star romances and twisty thrillers to cozy mystery audiobooks, here are my favorite June reads, summer book recommendations, and a peek at what I’m reading, listening to, and watching now.

June absolutely flew by, and somehow I managed to pack in a little bit of everything. Summer reading season is officially in full swing, which means plenty of beachy romances, addictive thrillers, and a continued obsession with cozy mysteries on audio. I’ve also realized I’m firmly in my audiobook era lately, if I’m doing chores, driving, or walking, chances are I have one playing.

If you missed anything this month, here’s a quick catch up, along with a look at what I’m currently reading, listening to, and loving.

ICYMI: JUNE HIGHLIGHTS

June Book Recommendations

A little bit of everything—from swoony romances to twisty thrillers and the books I couldn’t stop thinking about.

→ Read the full list here

June Reading Wrap-Up

→ Read the full list here

Audiobooks for Every Summer Mood

Whether you’re heading to the beach, taking a road trip, or just escaping the heat, I matched audiobooks to every kind of summer reading vibe.

→ Read the full list here

June’s Standout Reads

Chase Me If You Can — Heather Frances

One of my biggest surprises of the month. Storm chasing, road trip adventures, sharp banter, and chemistry that practically jumps off the page made this impossible to put down. Wes absolutely stole my heart, and the emotional family dynamics added so much depth to an already fantastic romance. An incredibly impressive debut that somehow feels both exciting and deeply heartfelt.

→ Read the full review here

West of Forever — Corinne Michaels

Completely obsessed doesn’t even begin to cover it. Rival families, a secret romance, a grumpy cowboy, and one of my favorite audiobook performances of the year? I listened in a single day because I couldn’t stop. Connor Crais and Vanessa Vasquez absolutely elevated an already phenomenal story, and I’m already desperate for the next book in this series.

→ Read the full review here

Romantic Hero — Kirsty Greenwood

Whimsical, emotional, and completely enchanting. Kirsty Greenwood somehow made a magical premise feel incredibly grounded through unforgettable characters and so much heart. I laughed, teared up, and finished with the biggest smile on my face. One of those romances that reminds you exactly why the genre is so magical.

→ Read the full review here

Nine Lives — Catherine Steadman

The premise alone sold me—a neighborhood mystery told through footage captured by a wandering cat? Immediately yes. This combines suburban secrets, neighborhood gossip, multiple suspects, and psychological suspense into a thriller that felt completely original. Even with a few small plausibility hiccups, I had an absolute blast reading it.

→ Read the full review here

CURRENTLY READING / LISTENING / WATCHING

Reading: Yes, Chef by Grace Reilly, and I am already hooked. A grumpy chef, a social media influencer, restaurant drama, and major The Bear meets It Happened One Summer vibes? Exactly what I’m in the mood for.

Listening: I’m still happily living in Bree Baker’s Seaside Café Mystery world and just started A Call for Kelp. At this point these books feel like a vacation for my brain—coastal setting, lovable characters, plenty of food, and cozy mysteries that are endlessly comforting.

Watching: Love Island USA. Am I a little bored this season? Yes. Am I still watching every episode because I’m too invested to quit now? Also yes. It may not be giving like past seasons, but apparently I’m committed.

WHAT’S NEXT

The second July 5 hits, my brain immediately shifts into fall mode (if you know, you know 😂), so expect summer content mixed with the earliest hints of spooky season.

Coming soon:

• my favorite summer reads roundup

• a popcorn thriller guide for late summer binge reading

• more cozy mystery recommendations because apparently this is who I am now

• a look at the Grilled Cheese Mysteries now that I’m fully embracing my cozy mystery obsession

• plenty more romance, thrillers, and whatever else my mood reading heart decides to pick up next

⸻

Thanks so much for following along each month. Whether you’ve been here for years or just recently found Novelgossip, I’m so grateful you’re part of this little book loving corner of the internet. I can’t wait to see what the second half of the year brings, and yes, I’m already thinking about fall reading. 🍂

Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox

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A twisty pageant thriller filled with longtime grudges, buried secrets, and a chilling cold case.

Goodreads

Release date: July 7, 2026

Publisher: Minotaur

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Secrets emerge as a Texas beauty pageant turns deadly in this rich and addictive novel with a jaw-dropping twist from psychological suspense author Kelsey Cox.

2000: Isabelle Whitmore vanishes at Sherman Ranch in Anhalt, Texas, without a trace.

2025: The annual Lone Star Princess Pageant looms, bringing long-standing grudges to the surface. Ingrid fled Anhalt in the wake of her sister Isabelle’s disappearance and has now returned, just in time for a construction crew to start digging up Sherman Ranch; the pageant brings up past traumas that Melanie can’t forget; Cat, newly sober, starts to feel threatened in ways that bring back old demons; and Sarah Lynn, who comes from a long line of pageant winners, knows that losing is not an option.

When old resentments and new confrontations reach their boiling point, temperatures drop to deadly degrees as a record-setting storm brings down the state’s power grid. With everyone trapped under one roof, scores will be settled, and more than one person will end up dead.

Some secrets are better left buried.

Review:

This is a fast paced thriller with short chapters that keep the story moving. The cast is made up of longtime friends, frenemies, pageant contestants, and people all connected by complicated histories, so there are plenty of shifting dynamics and simmering drama.

It took me a little while to settle into the story because there are several points of view and a lot happening early on. Once I got everyone straight, though, I was fully invested and the pages flew by. I especially enjoyed the cold case element surrounding Isabelle’s disappearance. It gave the mystery extra depth and kept me guessing as past and present storylines came together. The characters are layered, flawed, and carrying plenty of dark secrets, making it hard to know who could be trusted.

If you enjoy thrillers with messy relationships, multiple suspects, and decades old secrets unraveling alongside a present day murder mystery, this one is worth picking up.

Perfect for Readers Who Love

  • Multi POV psychological thrillers
  • Small town secrets and buried scandals
  • Longtime friends turned rivals
  • Pageant drama and competitive women
  • Cold cases connected to present day crimes
  • Fast paced mysteries with short chapters

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Falling Into You Jill Shalvis

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Small town second chances, family chaos, and a love that refuses to stay in the past

Goodreads

Release date: July 14, 2026

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casa

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Some love stories don’t stay buried, no matter how far you run.

Hazel Pierce has three goals for coming back to Star Falls:
1. Help her estranged dad.
2. Keep things strictly temporary.
3. Absolutely, under no circumstances, fall for Tucker Colburn again.

That plan dies a dramatic, soggy death when a rogue wasp sting sends Hazel swerving off the road and into the river—only to be hauled out, half-drowned and furious, by the Star Falls Fire Department’s finest. Unfortunately, “finest” is ex–best friend, ex–one-night mistake, and the man she’s been avoiding for a decade.

Tucker’s always had a way of getting into her head. And now between a family that thrives on gossip and a town that’s way too small for all this chemistry, Hazel’s running out of ways to avoid the truth. As sparks turn into late-night confessions and slow, toe-curling kisses, Hazel has to decide if she’s done running—from her past, from this town, and from the only man who’s ever made her feel like home. And Tucker has to prove that this time, he’s not just her safe place to crash—he’s her always.

Review:

This is exactly the kind of romance that reminds you why small town series work so well. Hazel and Tucker’s history feels lived in rather than manufactured for drama. Their connection isn’t just “we used to date” it’s layered with missed timing, emotional missteps, and the kind of unresolved tension that doesn’t disappear just because time passes.

The banter is sharp and genuinely funny without undercutting the emotional weight of their past. Tucker carries that classic grumpy, emotionally guarded exterior, but Shalvis does a nice job letting the softer edges show through in quiet, believable ways. Hazel is equally strong as a lead, she’s guarded, pragmatic, but not closed off to growth. Their push and pull dynamic works because neither of them feels flimsy in the conflict.

And as always with this series, the supporting cast is a highlight. The Colburn family dynamic adds warmth, humor, and a sense of community that makes Star Falls feel like a place you actually want to revisit.

Perfect for Readers Who Love

  • second chance romance with emotional history
  • small-town series with strong found-family vibes
  • witty banter balanced with tenderness
  • grumpy/sunshine-adjacent heroes with hidden softness
  • audiobook romances with dual narration

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

The House Guest by Jennifer Pashley

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An unsettling psychological suspense novel about power, obsession, and the dangerous games people play.

Goodreads

Release date: July 7, 2026

Publisher: Little Brown

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

An aspiring chef finds she has bitten off more than she can chew when her gig as a private cook to a bestselling author turns deadly in this propulsive, whip-smart suspense novel.

Brett Novak is a young upstart chef, with real, raw talent—if only she could catch a break. After getting dumped by her married girlfriend and losing the perfect job offer, Brett accepts a temporary position as a live-in, personal chef of a reclusive, bestselling author, Carson Smart, who resides in a mansion on a secluded beach in Cape Cod.

Carson immediately seduces her, but things get complicated when Carson’s wife, Vera, arrives home from her trip, and the love/hate relationship between the two spouses erupts, leaving Brett caught in the middle. Brett, starved for attention, craves Carson’s affection and yet is oddly drawn to Vera’s seductive and destructive charms. 

As Brett becomes an unwitting pawn and weapon, she questions how far husband and wife will go to wound the other. With nowhere else to turn, she has no choice but to stay—even as her hold on reality begins to slip. Can she survive her employers’ dark appetites?

Review:

This was dark, messy, unsettling, and completely captivating. Brett is an absolute disaster of a main character, but somehow I couldn’t help rooting for her. She’s flawed, impulsive, desperate for connection, and repeatedly makes questionable decisions, yet she always felt believable. I was invested in every terrible choice she made.

The dynamic between Brett, Carson, and Vera is where this novel really shines. Brett becomes an unwilling pawn in their manipulative, toxic marriage, and their constantly shifting alliances kept me guessing. Every interaction felt loaded with tension, making it nearly impossible to predict where things were headed. Although the novel isn’t technically a locked room mystery, the isolated mansion creates that same suffocating atmosphere. The house itself becomes almost another character, amplifying the sense that Brett is trapped in a situation she can’t escape.

Beyond the suspense, Jennifer Pashley weaves in thoughtful commentary about class, wealth, gender, power, and misogyny. Those themes add surprising depth without ever slowing the story down, making this much more than a standard domestic thriller. If you enjoy morally gray characters, toxic relationships, and psychological suspense that leaves you feeling deeply unsettled, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

Perfect for Readers Who Love

  • Morally gray, deeply flawed characters
  • Toxic relationship dynamics
  • Unpredictable psychological suspense
  • Claustrophobic, isolated settings
  • Social commentary woven into thrillers
  • Slow burning tension with messy emotional drama

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

The Neighbors Are Watching by Aggie Blum Thompson

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A Twisty Neighborhood Thriller Where Everyone Has Something to Hide

Goodreads

Release date: June 30, 2026

Publisher: Minotaur

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

From the “master of suburban scandal” (Samantha M. Bailey) comes a scandalous suburban thriller about privilege, unlikely friendships, and the lengths we go to protect our family.

Just outside Washington D.C. sits Eastbrook, Bethesda — a leafy suburb with top schools, manicured lawns, and friendly neighbors. It’s not the kind of place where nannies are shot during robberies gone wrong. But like any picture-perfect neighborhood, it’s been easy to cover up the shadows and move on.

A year after the unsolved neighborhood murder, Caren, nearing fifty and staring down an empty nest, has one too many drinks at a graduation party and blacks out on her way home. At least, that’s what everyone says happened. Caren suspects she was drugged by someone. But who?

When Caren teams up with a new neighbor who is desperate to figure out who murdered his best friend last year, they start to uncover what Eastbrook has tried to forget. But in a place where appearances are everything, their search for the truth means not only shattering carefully built façades — but putting themselves squarely in the crosshairs of a killer.

Review:

I love a neighborhood domestic suspense novel where everyone is watching everyone else, and The Neighbors Are Watching absolutely delivered. The premise hooked me immediately, dropping readers into a seemingly idyllic suburban community that’s filled with gossip, secrets, and suspicion. From the very beginning, I questioned every character’s motives and never felt like I could fully trust anyone. That constant uncertainty kept the pages flying.

The cast is packed with shady neighbors, whispered rumors, and morally gray decisions that made the entire neighborhood feel increasingly unsettling. I loved how the story slowly peeled back layers through dual timelines, revealing that everyone seemed to know more than they were willing to admit.

The tension builds steadily before racing toward an intense, satisfying conclusion that tied the mysteries together without feeling rushed. If you’re looking for a steadily paced domestic suspense full of neighborhood drama, hidden secrets, and plenty of paranoia, this is a great one to add to your TBR.

Perfect for Readers Who Love

  • Neighborhood drama with dark secrets
  • Domestic suspense with unreliable characters
  • Gossip fueled mysteries
  • Morally gray characters
  • Dual timeline thrillers
  • Slow burn mysteries with satisfying payoffs

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Audiobooks for Every Summer Mood: A Libro.fm Playlist for Audiobook Month

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From swoony romances and cozy mysteries to emotional book club picks and addictive thrillers, these audiobooks are perfect for every summer listening mood.

Looking for the perfect audiobook to match your summer mood? Whether you’re craving a swoony romance, a cozy mystery, a heart wrenching story, or a thriller that will keep you listening late into the night, I’ve got you covered.

June is Audiobook Month, which makes it the perfect time to celebrate one of my favorite ways to read. I’ve been a Libro.fm affiliate for years, and honestly, they’re a huge part of why I fell in love with audiobooks in the first place. They helped make listening feel approachable when I was just getting started, and now audiobooks are a regular part of my reading life.

To celebrate, I put together a Libro.fm playlist featuring audiobooks for every summer mood. These are some of my favorite recent listens, paired with standout narrators and unforgettable listening experiences.

Listen to the full playlist here

☀️ For a Light & Swoony Escape

Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen

Narrated by Brittany Pressley

✨💍☀️💕🎉

If you’re looking for a fun, flirty summer romance, Wedding Dashers is the perfect pick. Brittany Pressley’s narration brings all the chemistry, humor, and charm to this feel good story, making it an ideal companion for pool days and road trips.

🌊 For a Vacation in Book Form

Let’s Not Go Overboard Here by Erica Hendry

Narrated by Helen Laser

🏖️🌊🍹🕶️😂

This audiobook captures the messy, chaotic energy of a summer getaway gone slightly off the rails. Packed with pop culture references and beachy vibes, it’s a fun escape that feels like a vacation all on its own.

🍓 For Small Town Charm

Story of My Life by Lucy Score

Narrated by Martha Kindermann & Alexander Kalff

🍓🏡🌻📚💞

Lucy Score knows how to create unforgettable small town settings, and this audiobook delivers all the warmth, humor, and heart readers could want. The dual narration adds another layer of charm to an already delightful story.

☕ For a Cozy Weekend Listen

Live and Let Chai by Bree Baker

Narrated by Therese Plummer

🫖☕🔎🍰🌿

Nothing says cozy quite like a tea shop mystery. Therese Plummer’s narration makes this charming cozy mystery even more inviting, making it perfect for slow mornings, rainy afternoons, or relaxing weekends.

🔪 For a “Just One More Chapter” Night

The Final Target by Nora Roberts

Narrated by January LaVoy

🔪🏃‍♀️💥🕵️‍♀️😱

If you love suspense that keeps you listening far later than planned, The Final Target is the audiobook for you. January LaVoy’s narration elevates the tension and keeps the pages—well, audio chapters—flying by.

😭 For All the Feels

The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff

Narrated by Stacy Gonzalez, Timothy Andrés Pabon & Jackie Sanders

🔥❤️‍🩹😭🌅📖

Emotional, layered, and deeply moving, The Burning Side is the kind of audiobook that lingers long after it ends. The multiple narrators add depth and nuance to an already powerful story.

🎧 For an Immersive Audio Experience

Love Overboard by Kandi Steiner

Narrated by Hannah Chiclana & Walker Williams

🛥️⚓❤️‍🔥🌊🎧

One of the most immersive audiobook experiences I’ve listened to recently, Love Overboard combines a steamy romance with Below Deck-style energy and fantastic production quality. The narration pulls you right into the story and makes it easy to get completely lost in the world.

✨ For a Listen You’ll Immediately Recommend

The Shippers by Katherine Center

Narrated by Patti Murin

🎬🎧💕😂✨

Patti Murin delivers a standout performance in this charming, heartfelt audiobook. It’s the kind of listen that reminds me why I love audiobooks so much—and one I find myself recommending to everyone.

One of my favorite things about audiobooks is that there’s truly a perfect listen for every mood. Whether you’re spending the summer by the pool, traveling, tackling chores, or simply looking for a great story, these audiobooks offer something special.

I’d love to know: What audiobook are you listening to this summer? Let me know in the comments!

I also have a giveaway on Instagram to win one of these audiobooks!

The Housewife by Natalie Barelli

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A twisty, darkly funny psychological thriller about obsession, secrets, and the perfect marriage gone very wrong

Goodreads

Release date: June 30, 2026

Publisher: Poisoned Pen

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

From bestselling indie thriller writer Natalie Barelli comes a new deliciously dark novel about a woman who married the man of her dreams, only for him to become her worst nightmare.

Jodie always dreamed of being a housewife. And after a whirlwind romance, she marries renowned psychologist Dr. Roy Davies and moves into his perfect Beverly Hills home. But the fairy tale fades fast. Roy is distant, his friends view her as a gold-digger, and the house still reveres his late wife, Deborah, whose presence still looms over everyone and everything.

When Jodie learns Deborah became a recluse before death, she begins to suspect Roy was behind it. And the deeper she digs, the darker Roy’s past appears―obsessive, controlling, unfaithful. Increasingly convinced he had something to do with Deborah’s death, Jodie knows she should go to the police, but that would require revealing her own secret. A secret that could destroy her.

But Jodie won’t be silenced. Because the truth about Roy is worse than she imagined―and now, trapped in a house built on lies, she must find a way out before she becomes the next perfect wife to vanish.

Review:

This is pure popcorn thriller chaos in the best way. Jodie is completely unhinged—in a way that somehow makes you keep rooting for her even when you probably shouldn’t. She’s witty, sarcastic, impulsive, and wildly unreliable, but she’s also magnetic. The kind of anti heroine you watch spiraling and think: why am I still on your side?

The tone leans darkly comedic in a way that really works. There’s a sharp edge of humor running through the tension, which keeps the story from ever feeling too heavy even when things get disturbing. It’s fast, addictive, and constantly shifting, just when you think you know what Jodie is going to do next, she does something completely unhinged instead.

Is it predictable at times? Sure. Some twists land in the “I saw that coming” category. But honestly, it doesn’t really matter because the ride is the point here. It’s messy, bold, a little over the top, and completely entertaining from start to finish.

This is the kind of thriller you read in one sitting because you need to know how far it’s willing to go.

Perfect for Readers Who Love

  • Unreliable, morally gray narrators
  • Dark domestic thrillers with obsession and control themes
  • Fast paced “read in one sitting” stories
  • Black comedy mixed with suspense
  • Anti heroines you shouldn’t trust but can’t stop watching

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

The Au Pair by Teddy Wayne

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A sleek, addictive literary thriller that entertains—but doesn’t quite surprise

Goodreads

Release date: June 30, 2026

Publisher: Harper

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Award-winning author Teddy Wayne follows the tremendous critical success of his breakout sensation The Winner—a New York Times Top Ten Thriller of the Year—with another seductively twisty page-turner about the explosive impact of a beautiful Norwegian au pair on a celebrated novelist and his wife.

Steven Hammer was once an acclaimed literary star. Now, his career is floundering, his marriage to a high-powered woman is crumbling, and the only bright spot in his life is Astrid, the Norwegian au pair who cares for their children—and reveres his neglected novels. But what begins as a secret infatuation soon spirals into a scandal that makes them both infamous.

As a headline-grabbing trial captivates the world with a salacious story of sex, power, and betrayal, Steven must confront the wreckage he’s created—and the deeper insecurities that fueled it. Is Astrid an innocent young woman caught up in a case beyond her control, or a calculating femme fatale? And how far will he go, driven by desperation and obsession, for her professed love?

With breakneck pacing and dagger-sharp prose, Teddy Wayne’s The Au Pair is an electrifying literary thriller about desire, deception, and the unraveling of a man as he grapples with his fading relevance—where nothing is as it seems, and the truth may be more fantastical than the lies we tell ourselves.

Review:

This was a mixed bag in the most classic “I read it in one sitting but also… hmm” kind of way. On one hand, it’s undeniably addictive. It moves quickly, the writing is clean and readable, and it has that low effort, page turning quality that makes it perfect for a beach day or a travel read when you don’t want anything too heavy or complex. You’re in it immediately, and it’s easy to keep going.

On the other hand, it’s very predictable. The setup—famous but fading man, young beautiful au pair, obsession, consequences—feels familiar from the jump, and unfortunately it largely plays out exactly how you expect it to. I kept waiting for a sharper turn or a bigger shock moment that never quite landed. There’s also a sense that it wants to be more layered than it ends up being. It touches on ego, entitlement, storytelling, and perception, but never fully commits to anything deep enough to make it feel fresh. It’s not bad at all, just not especially bold. That said, it is compulsively readable. Even when I wasn’t surprised, I was still turning pages, which counts for something. It just never quite gave me that “oh wow” moment I was hoping for.

Perfect for Readers Who Love

  • Fast, easy to devour literary thrillers
  • Domestic scandal stories with messy relationships
  • Obsession driven narratives with unreliable emotional dynamics
  • Beach reads that don’t require heavy focus
  • Books that are more about vibe and momentum than big twists

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.