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Release date: August 7, 2018

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Blurb:

Emerson, Georgia, and Marley have been best friends ever since they met at a weight-loss camp as teens. When Emerson tragically passes away, she leaves one final wish for her best friends: to conquer the fears they still carry as adults.

For each of them, that means something different. For Marley, it’s coming to terms with the survivor’s guilt she’s carried around since her twin sister’s death, which has left her blind to the real chance for romance in her life. For Georgia, it’s about learning to stop trying to live up to her mother’s and brother’s ridiculous standards, and learning to accept the love her ex-husband has tried to give her.

But as Marley and Georgia grow stronger, the real meaning of Emerson’s dying wish becomes truly clear: more than anything, she wanted her friends to love themselves.

Review:

I swear every woman on the planet should read this book you guys. I don’t know of a single woman who hasn’t struggled with her weight or dealt with body image issues or struggled with low self esteem. Higgins captures all of the feelings and emotions that coexist alongside these complicated feelings women have about themselves perfectly and she does it with humor and grace as well.

This is told from all three friends perspectives, Marley and Georgia in present day and then Emerson in a series of heartbreaking journal entries that truly brought me to tears. These women are like so many others, their weight is always at the forefront of their thoughts and it has an effect on every single aspect of their lives, they were painfully relatable on so many levels that I wouldn’t hesitate to wholeheartedly recommend this one to any woman I know personally.

While this was a very emotional read it was also funny and poignant and unabashedly honest in the way women perceive themselves and other woman. While we can be our own harshest critics we can also be super quick to judge other women even as we struggle with our own body image issues which is so profoundly sad but also the God’s honest truth.

Marley and Georgia stole my heart completely and totally and made me yearn for friends just like the two of them. Their friendship was beautiful and inspiring and also raw and vulnerable, they’ve been friends through the bad and the good and know they each have a safe place to land in the others arms. While many of the issues covered here are heavy and sometimes dark this was a truly uplifting and hopeful read that will make you feel less alone in your insecurities and doubtful moments. Highly recommended read from one of my all time favorite authors, Higgins hit it out of the park with this one!

(Quick P. S. I’ve seen this book getting slammed for fat shaming and I just want to say that it doesn’t at all, I found it to be the opposite so if you’re hesitant because if that it’s not even true.)

Good Luck With That in three words: Vulnerable, Emotional and Relevant.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: January 8, 2019

Publisher: St. Martin’s

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.

When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking…and what she’s hiding. As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.

From the authors of the blockbuster bestseller The Wife Between Us comes an electrifying new novel about doubt, passion, and just how much you can trust someone.

Review:

I really have no business reading books that aren’t even out until next year (I may be drowning in ARCs) but when a copy of An Anonymous Girl arrived in my mailbox I dropped everything else and started reading it immediately. Last fall when I read The Wife Between Us I was totally blown away and I haven’t really stopped raving about it ever since. As excited as I was about this book I had that apprehension that I tend to get before reading a highly anticipated book. I kept wondering if Hendricks and Pekkanen could possibly top TWBU and if so, how? You guys, they can and they did!

This one should come with a warning label: Do not start this unless you have enough time and commitment to read in one breathless sitting. That’s really the only way to read it, once you start and then have to stop (because life) you’ll be irritated and desperate to get back to it, so fair warning.

I really don’t even want to get into the plot details at all, the blurb gives you the perfect amount of information and is intriguing enough on it’s own, but I will tell you why I loved this one just as much as Wife. For starters, it had that same addictive writing style that urges you to keep reading just a few more pages, that feeling you get when a really awesome book just grips you. You know how sometimes you’re so absorbed by a book that when something from the outside world interrupts you it takes you a few seconds to snap back to reality? This is that kind of book. Another thing that made this one fantastic is that instead of being a series of shocking twists and turns like Wife was it doesn’t solely depend on crazy revelations but instead is compromised of several smaller twists that still surprise you but almost catch you even more off guard because there’s a subtlety to them. It’s like a sneak attack, but in a very good way, an unexpected bonus that slaps you upside the head and makes you think, what in the hell is really going on here?

My final thoughts? Pre order this bad boy and prepare to be consumed, you won’t regret it and Hendricks and Pekkanen prove they are a force to be reckoned with.

An Anonymous Girl in three words: Obsessive, Riveting and Cunning.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: June 19, 2018

Publisher: Little Brown

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Doting wife, devoted husband, cherished child. Merry, Sam, and Conor are the perfect family in the perfect place. Merry adores the domestic life: baking, gardening, caring for her infant son. Sam, formerly an academic, is pursuing a new career as a filmmaker. Sometimes they can hardly believe how lucky they are. What perfect new lives they’ve built.

When Merry’s childhood friend Frank visits their Swedish paradise, she immediately becomes part of the family. She bonds with Conor. And with Sam. She befriends the neighbors, and even finds herself embracing the domesticity she’s always seemed to scorn.

All their lives, Frank and Merry have been more like sisters than best friends. And that’s why Frank soon sees the things others might miss. Treacherous things, which are almost impossible to believe when looking at this perfect family. But Frank, of all people, knows that the truth is rarely what you want the world to see.

Review:

This was such a strange read for me, I’m not even sure I can articulate my thoughts about it but I’ll do my best. For one thing, I flew through it so that tells me that it’s gripping, but on the other hand I was disturbed more than a few times due to the subject matter. But I didn’t stop reading even when things went down hill towards the end. Confusing to say the least!

This alternates Between Merry, Sam and Frank as Frank visits her BFF to check out her new life in Sweden with her husband and new son. The toxic and odd relationship between Frank and Merry was super interesting and I got the same vibe as when I read Give Me Your Hand so if you liked that book, you may like this as well. The writing style took a little time to get used to as well, Sacks doesn’t use quotation marks which was jarring at first but I adjusted quickly and wasn’t bothered soon enough.

The setting of Sweden was depicted really beautifully, I could easily picture the various scenes the author described and felt it had a really strong sense of place. There are many positive aspects of this one but as I don’t want to discuss the plot whatsoever, it’s difficult to get into what didn’t specifically work for me. If you’re intrigued by the blurb then I encourage you to pick this one up and try for yourself. It’s definitely unique and one that makes you say, what the hell?! Several times.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: July 31, 2018

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

When twin sisters Rose and Bel Enright enroll in The Odell School, a prestigious New Hampshire boarding school, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. But the sisters could not be more different. The school brings out a rivalry between them that few ever knew existed. And the school itself has a dark underbelly: of privileged kids running unchecked and uninhibited; of rituals and traditions that are more sinister than they seem; of wealth and entitlement that can only lead to disaster.

For Sarah Donovan, wife of an ambitious teacher who is determined to rise through the ranks, Odell also seems like the best thing that could happen to their small family. But how well does she really know her husband? What lengths will he go to to achieve his goals? And when one dark night ends in murder, who is guilty, who knows the truth, and who has been in on it all along? SHE WAS THE QUIET ONE. Because murderers are almost never who you expect.

Review:

I have to point out how much I love Campbell’s titles, It’s Always the Husband is so clever and this one is pretty smart as well! In an over saturated market things like a strong title always stand out from the crowd and after reading both of her books I can now say that there’s much more to her books than an eye catching title. They’re of the slow building, character driven variety but they sure pack a punch in the end.

This is told from various viewpoints, you have sisters Bel and Rose as well as Sarah, who is married to a young, handsome and charismatic teacher. The blend of two teenaged viewpoints and one adult gave this a YA vibe in a really good way. Campbell nailed the voices of both teenaged girls just trying to get through high school and a young wife and mom trying to keep multiple plates spinning while being scrutinized by an entire campus.

Once again this isn’t a fast paced, twisty, edge of your seat thriller but the ending was ultimately satisfying and it still managed to read like a fun page turning mystery with a heavy emphasis on character development and the bond between sisters. Twin sisters are always interesting and when you’re never sure how they really feel about each other it’s just double the fun 😜

She Was the Quiet One in three words: Simmering, Enthralling and Intelligent.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: August 7, 2018

Publisher: Dutton

Genre: Historical Fiction

Blurb:

In her latest captivating novel, nationally bestselling author Fiona Davis takes readers into the glamorous lost art school within Grand Central Terminal, where two very different women, fifty years apart, strive to make their mark on a world set against them.

For the nearly nine million people who live in New York City, Grand Central Terminal is a crown jewel, a masterpiece of design. But for Clara Darden and Virginia Clay, it represents something quite different.

For Clara, the terminal is the stepping stone to her future, which she is certain will shine as the brightly as the constellations on the main concourse ceiling. It is 1928, and twenty-five-year-old Clara is teaching at the lauded Grand Central School of Art. A talented illustrator, she has dreams of creating cover art for Vogue, but not even the prestige of the school can override the public’s disdain for a “woman artist.” Brash, fiery, confident, and single-minded–even while juggling the affections of two men, a wealthy would-be poet and a brilliant experimental painter–Clara is determined to achieve every creative success. But she and her bohemian friends have no idea that they’ll soon be blindsided by the looming Great Depression, an insatiable monster with the power to destroy the entire art scene. And even poverty and hunger will do little to prepare Clara for the greater tragedy yet to come.

Nearly fifty years later, in 1974, the terminal has declined almost as sharply as Virginia Clay’s life. Full of grime and danger, from the smoke-blackened ceiling to the pickpockets and drug dealers who roam the floor, Grand Central is at the center of a fierce lawsuit: Is the once-grand building a landmark to be preserved, or a cancer to be demolished? For Virginia, it is simply her last resort. Recently divorced, she has just accepted a job in the information booth in order to support herself and her college-age daughter, Ruby. But when Virginia stumbles upon an abandoned art school within the terminal and discovers a striking watercolor hidden under the dust, her eyes are opened to the elegance beneath the decay. She embarks on a quest to find the artist of the unsigned masterpiece–an impassioned chase that draws Virginia not only into the battle to save Grand Central but deep into the mystery of Clara Darden, the famed 1920s illustrator who disappeared from history in 1931.

Review:

Fiona Davis was one of the first HF authors I read and enjoyed, I loved both The Dollhouse and The Address and have been super excited about The Masterpiece. Davis has honed a keen ability to write dazzling stories about NYC, she really brings the city to life and truly sweeps you away to a different time and place.

This is told via a dual narrative flipping from the 1920s where Clara is a young artist trying to break in to a world where men rule and then Virginia in the 1970s as she also faces obstacles in a male dominated society. I adored both of these strong, female characters, even being fifty years apart they faced many of the same issues and had similar struggles and were both so brave and determined. Though their narratives both seemed connected in a loose manner I never guessed just how cleverly Davis would weave their tales together.

The rich and vibrant history of Grand Central Terminal was absolutely fascinating to me, I had no idea that at one time it was almost torn down! Besides the interesting bits of history you have some romance and even a mystery, a little bit of everything for everyone. HF will love this one and if you’re new to the genre Davis is a great author to start with, she’s fabulous!

The Masterpiece in the words: Dazzling, Captivating and Impassioned.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: August 7, 2018

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

On a bright January morning in the London suburbs, a family moves into the house they’ve just bought in Trinity Avenue.

Nothing strange about that. Except it is your house. And you didn’t sell it.

When Fiona Lawson comes home to find strangers moving into her house, she’s sure there’s been a mistake. She and her estranged husband, Bram, have a modern co-parenting arrangement: bird’s nest custody, where each parent spends a few nights a week with their two sons at the prized family home to maintain stability for their children. But the system built to protect their family ends up putting them in terrible jeopardy. In a domino effect of crimes and misdemeanors, the nest comes tumbling down.

Now Bram has disappeared and so have Fiona’s children. As events spiral well beyond her control, Fiona will discover just how many lies her husband was weaving and how little they truly knew each other. But Bram’s not the only one with things to hide, and some secrets are best kept to oneself, safe as houses.

Review:

The premise of this one captured my attention immediately, I can’t even imagine coming home and seeing another family living in my house, so crazy! As implausible as it sounds Candlish did a fantastic job at giving weight to such a preposterous idea, so much so that I kept wondering if it could happen to me.

The structure of this was really well done, it goes back and forth between the day Fiona realizes that strangers are occupying her home and then snippets from a podcast called The Victim where she appears after the incident. It also has a journal style narrative from Bram’s point of view going back months and laying the groundwork for what is to come. The style kept me really engaged and eager to see how what had happened in the past had such a devastating effect on the Lawson family in the end.

This was a slow burn, it’s on the longer side for a psychological thriller and the chapters are also fairly long. The pacing is more subtle than fast and furious but I remained engrossed and I think the unique structure helped to keep me interested. I think this will be on many lists for recommended summer reads and I can really see why, it has a truly original plot, some great twists and is extremely well written, Candlish has a nuanced style that had an air of sophistication that isn’t always found in thrillers and was really a breathe of fresh air.

Our House in three words: Original, Engaging and Secretive.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: July 24, 2018

Publisher: Dutton

Genre: Thriller

Blurb:

Alvie Knightly is back . . . and she’s hungover.

When Alvie discovers that her hit man boyfriend has driven off with the Lamborghini and two million euros, she does what any heartbroken, deserted, amateur assassin would do–she drinks everything in the minibar and trashes her hotel room. And then she gets to work.

A perilous cat-and-mouse game takes the pair across Rome, leaving a trail of collateral damage in their wake. But as she wholeheartedly embraces her dark side, Alvie will have to figure out if Nino is her nemesis . . . or the only man bad enough to handle her.

Review:

This is the second book in a trilogy, I didn’t have a chance to read the first book, but no worries because Alvie begins by swiftly highlighting what happened so I was all caught up within a few pages. Right from the start you know that you’re not dealing with your typical thriller protagonist, Alvie is the type of character you’ll either love or hate, but whatever side of the fence you fall on on, you won’t soon forget her.

I have to expand on Alvie, she is SUCH a hot mess, seriously a train wreck I could not read about her madcap adventures fast enough. She’s brash, vulgar and insane and I loved every bit of her crude commentary and bold moves. Her inner monologue slayed me and the pacing was brisk and full of nonstop action and over the top scenes. There is some sexually explicit content throughout, its pretty in your face and unapologetic so be warned.

This would make a great summer movie, I could easily see this playing out on the big screen and I just know a movie would be just as much fun as the book. This was sharply funny, Alvie has a biting wit and takes no prisoners, grab this if you want something wholly unique, just know it’s not for those easily offended by outrageous behavior.

Bad in three words: Sexy, Fast and Outrageous.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: August 21, 2018

Publisher: William Morrow

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

What if the person you thought you knew best turns out to be someone you never knew at all?

Andrea Cooper knows everything about her mother Laura. She knows she’s spent her whole life in the small town of Gullaway Island; she knows she’s never had any more ambition than to live a quiet life as a pillar of the community; she knows she’s never kept a secret in her life.

But one day, a trip to the mall explodes into violence and Andrea suddenly sees a completely different side to Laura.

Twenty-four hours later, Laura is in hospital, shot by an intruder who’s spent thirty years trying to track her down. Now, Andrea must go on a desperate journey to follow the breadcrumbs of her mother’s past. If she can’t uncover the secrets hidden there, there may be no future for either of them.

Review:

Most of you already know that I’m a huge fan of Karin Slaughter, I’ve read all of her books and think she’s the queen of crime, one of the best writers around, so every year I’m always very excited to read her latest book. While I wasn’t disappointed with this one it is vastly different from her other books and not at all what I was expecting, so heads up to the #SlaughterSquad!

While there were several of the components in this book that I’ve come to expect from Slaughter the plot itself differed from her other work. It follows two timelines, one in the present day as Andy is thrust down a dark path after a shocking incident that exposes things about her mother, Laura that she never expected to see. It flips back to the eighties and follows a group of anarchists who are plotting to take down “the system” in order to rebuild in a better way. While I wouldn’t say I was disconnected from the past timeline I was definitely more invested in the current one, I think this may be because it wasn’t a standard case of cop versus killer, more of a group think mentality and how people can be convinced to commit acts they never would otherwise and the psychology behind it. The characterization for both sections was phenomenal as usual, but this book went even deeper into the characters personas than any of her other books and was truly the focus of the whole book.

KS is an outstanding writer and I’ll continue to be her biggest fan but I wanted to make everyone aware that this was missing some of her trademark grit. There definitely were some graphic, visceral scenes and glimpses of what I love about her style of writing, but overall this was a highly character driven novel that explores the complex relationship between a mother and daughter while still very much landing in the thriller genre. This is a book to savor, not one to binge, it’s still dark and full of rich depth and dimension but it definitely marks a slight detour from Slaughter’s previous work.

Pieces of Her in three words: Intricate, Multifaceted and Dangerous.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.