Goodreads

Release date: March 3, 2026

Publisher: Harper Audio/William Morrow

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Revenge. It’s all relative.

Born three minutes apart, Penny and Nix Albright grew up doing everything together, close as only twins can be. But when Nix dies in a tragic accident soon after college, she leaves behind a cryptic voicemail that has Penny guilt-ridden and desperate for justice. 

Five Years Later

Penny has found new purpose as a rookie cop. She’s working to fulfill Nix’s dream of making the world a safer place, but following that dream becomes a nightmare when she’s called to her first murder scene. When she sees the victim, she knows him instantly. It’s Danny Bowery—one of three men she’s long blamed for Nix’s death—splayed in a pool of blood outside a posh Atlanta shopping center, almost as if she’d wished it so.

Stunned, Penny steps away to catch her breath and discovers a blonde in blood-drenched clothes gripping a box cutter. Before Penny can arrest her, the woman reveals that Bowery’s murder is part of a larger story that is far from over. A story about sisters. And with that, the killer disappears.

Now, Penny will stop at nothing to pursue this dangerous woman and learn why she’s avenging Nix’s death. The deeper she dives into the mystery, the less clear it becomes who is hunting whom in this captivating page-turner of hidden motives and deadly consequences.

Review:

Missing Sister by Joshilyn Jackson is a slow burn revenge story wrapped in grief, guilt, and complicated sisterhood. The premise immediately hooked me; twin sisters, a cryptic voicemail, and a murder that feels almost summoned by long held rage. Five years after Nix’s death, Penny is a rookie cop trying to honor her sister’s memory when one of the men she’s blamed for that tragedy turns up murdered. From there, the story spirals into a tangled web of vengeance and secrets that asks how far someone should go in the name of justice—and whether revenge can ever truly bring peace.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author herself, and I have to say, she was fantastic. I don’t always love when authors narrate their own work, but it absolutely worked here. Her performance added emotional nuance and intimacy that elevated the listening experience. That said, while I loved the premise and the emotional undercurrent, the execution didn’t fully land for me. The middle felt both draggy and oddly convoluted, with a lot going on that didn’t always feel cohesive. As a police procedural, it didn’t quite ring true for me either—it lacked the realism I usually look for in that genre. I also struggled to connect with Penny and didn’t love some of her decisions, which made it harder to stay fully invested. Not a bad read by any means, just one that ultimately wasn’t for me.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: March 3, 2026

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Fiction

Synopsis:

A gripping speculative romance about one girl saving her first love’s life by falling for the last person she ever should – his best friend.

Nieve Monroe is devastated after her boyfriend Carter dies saving her from drowning. Even worse she blames herself for his death… and so does his best friend, Max. He was there with them on that fateful day, and he’s never liked Nieve.

Unable to pull herself from her grief and wanting to hide from the accusation in his eyes, Nieve goes to stay with her grandmother, who has always had strange stories to tell of uncanny happenings, of magic and make believe. The next morning, Nieve wakes up on the first day of college, the year before.

This time she plans to make sure Carter never follows her into that river. She’ll do everything in her power to keep him safe, even if it means losing him in other ways. But the more distance she puts between her and Carter, the closer she gets to Max, drawn to him in ways she never expected.

But is she betraying Carter if the only way she can save him is to move on? And can she ever forget her past to embrace her future?

Kristin Dwyer’s In Time With You is a heartbreaking story of first love, loss, and one chance to change everything.

Review:

In Time With You is a devastatingly tender time slip romance that balances grief and hope in equal measure. When Nieve loses her boyfriend Carter in a tragic accident she blames herself for, her world fractures. But after retreating to her grandmother’s house—where stories of magic and impossibility have always lingered—she wakes up on the first day of college, one year before Carter’s death. What follows is a character driven exploration of love, guilt, and second chances as Nieve attempts to rewrite fate and save the boy she lost.

I love a good time slip novel, and this one puts such an emotional twist on the trope. Instead of chasing adventure, Nieve is chasing redemption. The magical realism is fun but slightly kooky, never fully explained in the way some speculative novels attempt to tidy up their rules, but honestly, that ambiguity works if you’re willing to just go with it and expect the unexpected. Beneath the speculative layer, this story is deeply rooted in its characters. Nieve’s grief feels raw and honest, and both Carter and Max are fully developed in ways that make the emotional stakes soar. The secondary characters linger too, they’re not the forgettable background figures you often see in YA/NA romance.

The audiobook, narrated by Jesse Vilinsky is especially strong. She is one of the best voices for YA and NA fiction because she captures that age—the vulnerability, impulsiveness, longing—so naturally. She elevates the emotional beats, especially during Nieve’s quiet, devastating moments of self blame and the softer, surprisingly adorable romantic scenes. Between the heartbreak and the hope, this story offers so many sweet, light moments that make the heaviness feel bearable. It’s tender, messy, and ultimately healing.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: March 3, 2026

Publisher: Grand Central

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

From the international bestselling author of The Drowning Woman, a psychological thriller about a couple rocked by infidelity who moves to a villa in Spain’s Costa Brava to rebuild their relationship, only to welcome a pair of visitors who have no intention of leaving.

Sydney Lowe’s life in New York is shattered when her husband, Curtis, admits to a meaningless affair with a client. Begging for forgiveness and vowing to prove his devotion, Curtis suggests the couple retreat to a remote hilltop house in Spain to repair their marriage.

High above the Mediterranean, Sydney and Curtis are working on the isolated property and their relationship when a pair of Australian travelers turns up at their door in dire need of help. Lonely for companionship and desperate for free labor, Sydney and Curtis invite the attractive young couple to stay. But as the days pass, dark secrets come to light, the Lowes’ bond is tested, and not everyone will leave the villa alive.

Review:

Strangers in the Villa by Robyn Harding is a tense, sun drenched psychological thriller that proves once again why Harding is one of my go to authors when I want to be kept on my toes. Set high above the Mediterranean on Spain’s Costa Brava, the novel follows a fractured marriage in the wake of infidelity. Sydney and Curtis retreat to a remote villa to repair the damage, only to invite two unexpected strangers into their fragile sanctuary. What begins as an uneasy attempt at rebuilding trust quickly spirals into something far more dangerous.

The alternating POVs are where this story truly shines. Every character feels slightly untrustworthy, layered with secrets, lies, and quiet betrayals that simmer beneath the surface. The pacing starts slower as Harding carefully builds tension and atmosphere, but I was never bored. Instead, that deliberate buildup makes the back half hit even harder as the momentum accelerates and the stakes skyrocket.

By the final stretch, the twists and turns come fast and sharp. Just when you think you’ve found steady ground, Harding shifts it again. It’s a smart, tightly constructed thriller that leans into messy relationships and moral gray areas and is another solid, compulsively readable entry from an author I’ve learned to trust.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.