Goodreads

Release date: June 25, 2024

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

An aimless young woman starts writing to an accused serial killer while he awaits trial and then, once he’s acquitted, decides to move in with him and take the investigation into her own hands in this dark and irresistibly compelling debut thriller.

Recently ghosted and sick of watching her friends fade into the suburbs, thirty-something Hannah finds community in a true-crime forum that’s on a mission to solve the murders of four women in Atlanta. After William, a handsome lawyer, is arrested for the killings, Hannah begins writing him letters. It’s the perfect outlet for her pent-up frustration and rage. The exercise empowers her, and even feels healthy at first.

Until William writes back.

Hannah’s interest in the case goes from curiosity to obsession, leaving space for nothing else as her life implodes around her. After she loses her job, she heads to Georgia to attend the trial and befriends other true-crime junkies like herself. When a fifth woman is discovered murdered, the jury has no choice but to find William not guilty, and Hannah is the first person he calls upon his release. The two of them quickly fall into a routine of domestic bliss.

Well, as blissful as one can feel while secretly investigating their partner for serial murder…

Review:

This one won’t be for everyone, but damn I really liked it. I’ve always been fascinated by those women who write letters to convicted criminals so the premise sounded so interesting to me. What interests me the most is what type of person could actually fall in love with a killer? Getting to know Hannah in this book provided some insight into here and while I could never claim to understand her motivations, this did provide a unique look into exactly how it could happen. She’s not relatable, and she’s not all that likable either but I could not stop reading about. She’s an unhinged train wreck and I couldn’t wait to see what she would do next. This has three parts and the middle section did drag a little for me but part three truly sucked me back in. Things really start to go off the rails and while parts of the conclusion were a little predictable, I was pretty satisfied by how it all ended. Try this if you want something different, or something character driven or even if you’re like me and want to know what kind of women writes love letters to a man facing a murder trial.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: June 11, 2024

Publisher: Brillance Audio

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

An achingly romantic novel about chance meetings, buried secrets, and the multiple facets of love and family bonds by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Kerry Lonsdale.

Raised by her fiercely passionate and free-spirited grandmother, Julia Hope has never gone without love. But as she tends to her only living relative during her final days, Julia struggles to overcome her fear of being alone.

A thousand miles away, Matt Gatlin has managed to avoid the coldhearted grandmother with whom he once lived. But after twelve years of her being blessedly out of sight, she needs him. His resentments still raw, Matt packs up his car and reluctantly heads to California to confront a bitter past he thought was long gone.

Over the next six days, Julia’s and Matt’s fates intersect. An old diary exposes the tragedy of a long-lost love. A history of secrets in two families comes to light. And on a lonely back road, Matt picks up an unusual yet captivating hitchhiker with a secret of her own.

For Julia and Matt, something heartbreaking and heartwarming, mysterious and beautiful, will touch their lives—with neither of them realizing that maybe they’re destined for each other.

Review:

This would be the perfect read for someone who wants a little bit of everything because this has romance, some mystery, family drama, secrets and a dash of magic. Both Julia and Matt are complex characters with complicated pasts and the author did an excellent job at weaving their narratives together. The story itself is quite intricate as besides Julia and Matt both of their grandmothers stories are told over the course of the book. The familial relationships here are so heartbreaking and there are so many subjects explored here from dementia to drug abuse to abandonment issues and many more. It’s also about second chances and forgiveness and it’s highly emotional for both Julia and Matt. I always say the authors books are a perfect summer escape and this was no exception, it’s fresh and unique. The audio version is narrated solely by Amanda Leigh Cobb and she’s delightful. I’ve listened to her before but it’s been awhile and she has a very engaging style.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: May 28, 2024

Publisher: Pamela Dorman

Genre: Mystery/Thriler

Synopsis:

Two couples. One twisted game of love and obsession. A dark domestic thriller about the dangerous secrets that come to light when a wild fantasy turns sinister. . .

When young couple Elena and Adam are offered the chance to house-sit in their dream neighborhood for a few months, they jump at the opportunity. The leafy South London enclave is a world away from everything they know, complete with grand homes, lush gardens, and quaint local coffee shops.

Soon Elena crosses paths with the beautiful and enigmatic artist Sophia and her husband, Finn, and she and Adam are pulled into their orbit. Sophia is everything Elena isn’t—glamorous, alluring, successful—and Finn exerts a mysterious pull on Elena that she can’t seem to shake.

Elena’s infatuation with Finn grows stronger by the day, and when Sophia proposes a thrilling game to her new friend—to swap partners in secret—Elena quickly agrees. It’s not long before Elena experiences a sexual awakening that blossoms into an illicit love affair, but Sophia’s plans are far more dangerous than Elena could ever have imagined. . .

Review:

First things first, before you start this one you must know that’s it’s ridiculous and highly improbable, but if you can get past that it was truly a fun time. The entire premise is outrageous, Elena and Sophia trick their husbands by sneaking into each other’s beds, like come on wouldn’t they notice? 😂 But again, if you can just go with that it’s insanely fun and juicy. The entire thing feels like one disaster waiting to happen but I love a good train wreck personally. It also has a bit of a cat and mouse vibe between the two women, they’re playing a dangerous game and things get dark. There were some twists that got me, which is always fun and with how batshit the whole plot was I had no idea where it was going and I was pretty shocked by how it all wrapped up. If you like dramatic and over the top stories with lies and betrayals give this a try!

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: June 18, 2024

Publisher: Blackstone

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

What happens when two serial killers begin to compete with each other? From #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Gardiner comes a new high-octane thriller in the acclaimed UNSUB series. FBI Special Agent Caitlin Hendrix faces a case from nightmares. In a Tennessee prison, Efrem Judah Goode draws haunting portraits of women he claims he has killed. Around the country, desperate families of the missing seek answers in his eerie drawings. And on darkened back roads and New York City streets, a new killer poses duct-taped bodies at the sites of Goode’s murders. Two serial killers are locked in a twisted rivalry. To stop the brutal slayings, FBI profiler Caitlin Hendrix must unravel the connection between Goode and the Broken Heart Killer. Their warped competition destroys anyone in their path. Caught between a manipulative psychopath and a ruthless UNSUB, Caitlin has to dive into not one, but two dark and twisted minds. She will risk everything, plunging into the depths of their depraved clash to hunt down an unstoppable killer.

Review:

It’s been a long wait between book three and book four of this series but I can say it was definitely worth it. While you could read this as a standalone I don’t recommend it. The first three books are really great and the character development of Caitlin is so good so you would be missing out. This one starts out a little on the slow side but that doesn’t last too long so be patient because it’s worth it in the end. The case itself is fascinating and I had no idea how everything would end up connecting and I definitely didn’t predict it at all. Dueling serial killers is so creepy and the suspense was solid. I do wish we would’ve gotten more of Caitlin’s personal life but being back with her in any capacity was still great. If you like dark thrillers, behavioral analysis type of crime fighting and clever plots this was excellent.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: June 18, 2024

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Thriller, Horror

Synopsis:

Get Out meets Parasite in this eerily haunting debut and Reddit hit—soon to be a Netflix original movie starring Blake Lively—about two homeowners whose lives are turned upside down when the house’s previous residents unexpectedly visit.

As a young, queer couple who flip houses, Charlie and Eve can’t believe the killer deal they’ve just gotten on an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. As they’re working in the house one day, there’s a knock on the door. A man stands there with his family, claiming to have lived there years before and asking if it would be alright if he showed his kids around. People pleaser to a fault, Eve lets them in.

As soon as the strangers enter their home, uncanny and inexplicable things start happening, including the family’s youngest child going missing and a ghostly presence materializing in the basement. Even more weird, the family can’t seem to take the hint that their visit should be over. And when Charlie suddenly vanishes, Eve slowly loses her grip on reality. Something is terribly wrong with the house and with the visiting family—or is Eve just imagining things?

Review:

This book is a total mindfuck, I really had no idea what was happening or where it was going the whole time but I kind of loved that aspect honestly. It kept me on my toes for sure! I think just knowing the setup is really all that’s important, a young couple answers their door to a family saying they used to live in the house, can they come inside for a few minutes? Things spiral from there in unexpected and unsettling directions, this was truly creepy with so many of my own personal fears being unlocked but somehow I still could not put it down. It’s fast paced, almost furiously so and combined with a mounting sense of dread and total uneasiness, it was pretty damn good in a what the fuck is going on kind of way. My rating would have been even higher but there were quite of few questions left unanswered and an ambiguous ending, but maybe I’m just stupid. Anyway, this was original and truly scary and I can’t wait to see the Netflix movie version.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: June 11, 2024

Publisher: William Morrow

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

As the child of a Hooters waitress and an ex-pro wrestler, Margo Millet’s always known she’d have to make it on her own. So she enrolls at her local junior college, even though she can’t imagine how she’ll ever make a living. She’s still figuring things out and never planned to have an affair with her English professor—and while the affair is brief, it isn’t brief enough to keep her from getting pregnant. Despite everyone’s advice, she decides to keep the baby, mostly out of naiveté and a yearning for something bigger.

Now, at twenty, Margo is alone with an infant, unemployed, and on the verge of eviction. She needs a cash infusion—fast. When her estranged father, Jinx, shows up on her doorstep and asks to move in with her, she agrees in exchange for help with childcare. Then Margo begins to form a plan: she’ll start an OnlyFans as an experiment, and soon finds herself adapting some of Jinx’s advice from the world of wrestling. Like how to craft a compelling character and make your audience fall in love with you. Before she knows it, she’s turned it into a runaway success. Could this be the answer to all of Margo’s problems, or does internet fame come with too high a price?

Blisteringly funny and filled with sharp insight, Margo’s Got Money Troubles is a tender tale starring an endearing young heroine who’s struggling to wrest money and power from a world that has little interest in giving it to her. It’s a playful and honest examination of the art of storytelling and controlling your own narrative, and an empowering portrait of coming into your own, both online and off.

Review:

Wow this one was unique and a totally unexpected win for me. I really didn’t have expectations going into this, I’ve never read the author before and I didn’t reread the synopsis before starting and I’m glad I didn’t honestly. I loved how quirky and fresh it was and I adored the authors writing style. There was such a great balance between Margo’s struggles as a new mom and some seriously great humor that was dark at times. Besides being a young and totally unprepared new mom Margo also had some of the most complicated and wacky relationships with basically everyone in her life. At its heart the plot is simple but somehow the author managed to infuse a world of depth and heart into the story. Margo was one of the best characters I’ve had the pleasure of reading about lately, I couldn’t help but root for her despite her sometimes beguiling naïveté, she just got to my heart. If you’re looking for something different and effortless this was excellent and will most certainly be one of my favorite reads this year.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: June 11, 2024

Publisher: Park Row

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

A dream vacation turns deadly when secrets from the past catch up to a married couple in Paris in this new edge-of-your-seat thriller from USA Today bestselling author, Kimberly Belle.

When Stella met Adam, she thought she had finally found a nice, normal guy—a welcome change from her previous boyfriend and her precarious jetsetter lifestyle with him. But her secure world comes crashing down when Adam goes missing after an explosion in the city square. Unable to reach him, she panics.

As the French police investigate, it’s revealed that Adam was on their radar as a dealer of rare and stolen antiquities with a long roster of criminal clients. Reeling from this news, Stella is determined not to leave Paris until she has the full story. Was Adam a random victim or the target of the explosion? And why is someone following her through the streets of Paris?

An irresistible, fast-paced read set in some of Europe’s most inviting locales, The Paris Widowexplores how sinister secrets of the past stay with us—no matter how far we travel.

Review:

If you’re building your summer TBR this would be a fantastic addition! It’s fast paced and begs to be read in one sitting, it’s addictive and has some high stakes for the characters and its set in Paris, so if you can’t make the trip there for your own vacation you can at least see the sights from the pages of this one. The author does domestic suspense really well and I enjoyed her vacation spin this time around. The idea of a dream trip turned nightmare was fascinating and I felt for Stella as she tried to navigate the mess her husband created on foreign soil which added another layer of tension and anxiety. Not all of the surprises were true surprise for me but this was still really fun and enjoyable for me.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads Amazon

Release date: June 11, 2024

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

After the Jacobson siblings win a life-changing fortune in the lottery, they assume their messy lives will transform into sleek, storybook perfection—but they couldn’t be more wrong in the new laugh-out-loud novel from beloved author Elyssa Friedland.

The four Jacobson children were raised to respect the value of a dollar. Their mother reused tea bags and refused to pay retail; their father taught them to budget before he taught them to ride a bike. And yet, as adults, their financial lives—as well as their personal lives—are in complete disarray.

The siblings reunite when their newly widowed father puts their Jersey Shore home on the market. Packing up their childhood isn’t easy, especially when they’ve all got drama brewing back home. Matthew is miserable at his corporate law job and wishes he had more time with his son; Laura’s marriage is imploding in spectacular fashion; Sophie’s art career is stalled while her boyfriend’s is on the rise; and Noah’s total failure to launch has him doing tech repair for pennies.

So when Noah sees an ad for a Powerball drawing, he and his sisters go in on a ticket. Matthew passes but the ticket is a winner and all hell breaks loose as the infusion of cash causes sibling rivalries and family secrets to resurface. Without their mother, and with their father busy playing pickleball in a Florida retirement village, the once close-knit siblings search for comfort in shiny new toys instead of each other.

It’s not long before the Jacobson’s start to realize that they’ll never feel rich unless they can pull their family back together.

Review:

I really enjoy the authors style of writing books about messy families, she explores that dynamic in a really authentic and charming way that always works for me. I think we’ve all daydreamed about what we would do if we won the lottery and that’s the reality for the Jacobson family and the premise here. As exciting and life changing as it is for this family, it also opens up a host of issues and exposes some problems they weren’t ready to face. They’re all still reeling from the loss of their beloved mother and trying to navigate life without their matriarch and grief was discussed in such a relatable way. I enjoyed all four of the siblings and sometimes shook my head at some of their struggles and others were very universal. Their father, Leo was such a character and he was one of my favorites. This is such a perfect summer read, especially if you enjoy reading about other people’s problems and dramas in an endearing and entertaining way.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads Amazon

Release date: June 11, 2024

Publisher: Avon

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Secrets are revealed and forbidden sparks ignited in this sizzling Sunrise Cove tale of enemies to lovers, redemption, missing treasures, and love—by romance superstar and New York Timesbestselling author Jill Shalvis.

Anna Moore didn’t just wake up one day and decide to go on a wild quest — especially since her life no longer lends itself to wild anything — so how in the world does she end up racing against the clock with Owen Harris, a sexy, enigmatic adventurist, to prove her beloved dad innocent of stealing a million-dollar necklace? 

It’s all Wendy’s fault. Her older, bossy sister, who’s seven months pregnant and on bed rest in their small Lake Tahoe hometown, is desperate to clear their dad’s name. Owen though is convinced he’s guilty as hell and wants to return the jewelry back to its rightful owner—his elderly great aunt. Together they go on a scavenger hunt for clues to the past (with Wendy remotely along for the ride via an ear bud, supplying a running wry commentary to boot).  

On opposing sides and suspicious of each other as they are, Anna and Owen still can’t deny the inexplicable and explosive chemistry between them on this heart-stopping adventure, the outcome of which will prove the necklace isn’t the only thing stolen — their hearts have been as well.

Review:

This one reminded me exactly why I adore Jill Shalvis. I can always count on her to write a heartwarming story that will make me laugh, make me swoon and make me want to befriend her characters. Besides those must haves this one also had a dash of mystery which is something new and it was such a fun addition. Anna and Owen have an immediate connection but their push and pull relationship kept me wanting more and the author delivered the perfect amount of angst to keep me invested. Anna’s sister, Wendy and her husband, Hayden are serious goals. Their relationship was adorable and Wendy and Anna’s sisterly bond was so sweet. Some of my favorite scenes were when Wendy was on the phone eavesdropping since she was on bed rest, too funny! No one does witty dialogue better than JS and not only did Anna and Owen have great banter, the sisters did as well. If you like cozy romances with a side of spice, all the good vibes and humor and a beautiful setting this was excellent.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.