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Release date: June 14, 2016

Publisher: Little Brown and Company

Genre: Chick Lit

Goodreads blurb: 

Three romantic rivals. One crowded house. Plenty of room for jealousy. 

Laurel Thorpe, Belinda Rowe, and Scarlett Oliver share only two things; a love for the man they all married, Deacon Thorpe–a celebrity chef with an insatiable appetite for life–and a passionate dislike of one another. All three are remarkable, spirited women, but they couldn’t be more different. Laurel: Deacon’s high school sweetheart and an effortlessly beautiful social worker; Belinda: a high-maintenance Hollywood diva; and Scarlett: a sexy southern belle floating by on her family money and her fabulous looks. They’ve established a delicate understanding over the years–they avoid each other at all costs.

But their fragile detente threatens to come crashing down after Deacon’s tragic death on his favorite place on earth: a ramshackle Nantucket summer cottage. Deacon’s final wish was for his makeshift family to assemble on his beloved Nantucket to say good-bye. Begrudgingly, Laurel, Belinda, and Scarlett gather on the island as once again, as in each of their marriages, they’re left to pick up Deacon’s mess. Now they’re trapped in the crowded cottage where they all made their own memories–a house that they now share in more ways than one–along with the children they raised with Deacon, and his best friend. Laurel, Belinda, and Scarlett each had an unbreakable bond with Deacon–and they all have secrets to hide. 

Before the weekend is over, there are enough accusations, lies, tears, and drama to turn even the best of friends–let alone three women who married the same man–into adversaries. As his unlikely family says good-bye to the man who brought them together–for better or worse–will they be able to put aside their differences long enough to raise a glass in Deacon’s honor? 

Review: 

It isn’t summer for me until I’ve read Elin Hilderbrand’s latest novel. Now if I could just figure out a way to read one of her books while I’m actually on vacation in Nantucket, my experience would be complete.

One of my favorite parts about Hilderbrand’s books is that I get a glimpse inside the lives of the fabulously wealthy while they’re dealing with tragedies, problems, and drama. Here’s To Us provides all this and more as you’re taken into the personal life of celebrity chef Deacon Thorpe and this crazy and complicated family he’s created.

Hilderbrand holds true to her pattern of showcasing a colorful cast of characters where they each tell the story from their own viewpoint. There’s the three ex wives; Laurel, Belinda and Scarlett, their children, Hayes, Angie and Ellery, and Buck who was Deacon’s lifelong best friend. 

The drama is abounding as the three ex wives of Deacon Thorpe all deal with their own feelings and issues after his untimely passing. The story unfolds over a weekend with each section focusing on one day of said weekend. Interspersed throughout are the stories of Deacon’s version of events about his relationships with his wives. Since this book focuses so much around food, there are also some absolutely mouthwatering recipes provided. I loved this and thought it was a clever thing to add.

Hilderbrand is synonymous with summer and once again, she has crafted a sinfully delicious novel that her fans will devour. Her descriptions of the island of Nantucket are beautiful and after reading each of her novels I always find myself longing to visit there so I can visit the markets, eat some fresh seafood and relax on the beach.

Overall rating: 4/5

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Release date: August 2, 2016

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Genre: Contemporary YA/NA

Goodreads blurb:

Model Finley needs someone to help her shed her “good girl” persona, so she’ll try Eddie on for size.

New York City model Finley is fed up with hearing the same feedback at castings: she needs to take some serious action to wipe the “good girl” stamp from her resume if she wants to launch to stardom.

Enter Eddie Wells. He’s shallow, predictable…and just as lost as Finley feels. Deep down, Finley is drawn to Eddie’s bravado, his intensity. Except Eddie is hiding something. A big something. And when it surfaces, both loving and leaving Finley will become so much harder. 

Review: 

This book starts out like many YA/NA romance novels do; good girl meets bad boy and there’s sparks, then they hook up. Nothing wrong with that formula, clearly it sells, but it’s pretty typical nonetheless. What saves this book from being too clichéd is that the two main characters are so fun and likable.

Finley is a young model who is constantly playing the role of the good girl, both in her personal life and in her professional life as a model. She’s ready to ditch that label and what better way than to hook up with a hot guy? Eddie is also a model, albeit a reluctant one. He needs cash, fast but why? There is definitely a secret buried but will it harm the fragile new friends with benefits type relationship the two have started?

Yes Finley is the typical good girl, but I still really liked her. She’s sweet, but she has a sassy side and her personality is fun loving and relatable. I think most young girls would love to have a friend like her. Eddie is just downright adorable and clueless but he has a charm about him. These two have an undeniable chemistry that made for some fun banter throughout the book.

There is of course a twist, one that deals with what Eddie is hiding. This could have been resolved in several ways and I’m really pleased with the direction the authors took it. It could’ve went south and been totally and unrealistically “perfect” but it wasn’t.

Finley’s character especially goes through tremendous growth and maturity. I loved this aspect as character development is everything to me. I also really liked the fact that both Finley and Eddie refused to sacrifice their own personal goals for each other. So many YA/NA books show the girl or guy throw away their hopes and dreams in the name of love and that wasn’t the case here.

This book kept me entertained with its warm and endearing characters and their own separate personal journeys. It beautifully showcased a healthy and stable young relationship which is always so refreshing.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to Sourcebooks for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Release date: August 2, 2016

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller

Goodreads blurb: 

Who will be left after lights out?

At Cate’s isolated boarding school, Killer is more than a game- it’s an elite secret society. Members must avoid being “Killed” during a series of thrilling pranks, and only the Game Master knows who the “Killer” is. When Cate’s finally invited to join the Assassins’ Guild, she know it’s her ticket to finally feeling like she belongs.

But when the game becomes all too real, the school threatens to shut it down. Cate will do anything to keep playing and save the Guild. But can she find the real assassin before she’s the next target? 

Review:

Even though the premise of this story is a bit played out I was still interested after reading the blurb. How many movies and books have we all read/watched where kids play a game then things turn deadly? Tons, right? I had hoped that there would be some originality in this one, but alas I was left disappointed and irritated.

Cate is a pretty boring main character. McKay tries to create a creepy setting, but Cate’s lack of genuine fear makes it all fall flat. She’s very unemotional and bland, she’s overall just a lackluster person so I found I couldn’t even really like her, much less relate to her.

I was really hoping that at least the killer would be hard to identify, after all there was a pretty large cast of characters to choose from as the whole book takes place in a school. I guessed the killer about thirty percent into the book, which was obviously a huge disappointment. To be fair, I read a lot of mysteries and can guess whodunnit oftentimes. But I felt like this time it was so obvious that even the youngest of YA readers would guess correctly as well.

The pacing of this book was just off for me too. There were parts that just dragged on so slowly and others that just didn’t feel necessary. Something else complete unnecessary? The blatant sexism throughout. I was too annoyed to grab actual quotes, but things along the line of, oh the killer has to be male because he’s “killing” all females, and bitch has got to go. No thank you. I say “killing” because for a book with the premise of a killing game, not a whole lot of killing happens. 

Maybe I could recommend this to the younger side of YA readers. On second thought, no I cannot. I wouldn’t want anyone impressionable reading a book that alludes to sexism, mocking of athletes for being unintelligent for no other reason than they’re athletic, and sketchy relationships between students and teachers. Also, it does that typical thing that all YA readers hate! The absent parents who don’t care about their kids but only care about their money. Over. Done. To. The. Extreme. 

Overall rating: 2/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Release date: June 22, 2016

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Thriller

Goodreads blurb: 

He watches. He waits. He kills … 

When Jessie Conway survives a horrific mass high school shooting, in the aftermath she finds herself thrust into the media spotlight, drawing all kinds of attention. But some of it is the wrong kind. 

Caleb Switch, a sadistic serial killer has been watching her every move. A skilled hunter, he likes his victims to be a challenge to him. Jessie is strong, fearless, a survivor, and now…she is his ultimate prey. 

As Caleb picks off his current victims one by one, chasing, killing and butchering them with his crossbow, he’s closing in on Jessie… But will Jessie defy the odds and escape with her life? Or will she be Caleb’s final sacrifice … 

Review: 

From chapter one this book takes you on a nonstop roller coaster of a ride. It opens with Jessie, a thirty something teacher in the middle of a typical school day, but this day is anything but typical as it turns into a horror show as students with guns appear and open fire. Jessie is quick thinking and intelligent and manages to save the lives of several students and is soon lauded as the town hero.

But this act of heroism has a hefty price tag as it’s made her catch the evil eye of Caleb Switch. You see, he is a hunter and he is no longer satisfied by simply hunting big game animals, he now hunts humans.

This book has several compelling characters that are well developed and intriguing. Besides Jessie there is her brother in law Ace, an ex con. While he’s made some mistakes and bad choices in the past, it seems that now he is ready to do what’s right. Darla is a local reporter who will not let anything stop her from getting to the heart of a story. Caleb is a cold blooded, cunning sociopath with no emotions and no regrets. He places his victims into two categories; A or B with A being reserved for those he feels are the strongest and smartest. 

Since the killer is revealed right from the start, there is no mystery behind that aspect. There were a few twists, but only one really surprised me. Rather than keeping you constantly guessing whodunnit, this book ramps up the suspense while you’re waiting for the action to unfold. The reader knows the who, and some of the how, but you don’t know when. 

The only thing missing for me was more detail about Darla’s story. I enjoyed her and would’ve liked to learn what happened to her in the end. There were also mentions of Jessie’s brother a few times, then…nothing. I had a few theories about him that I had hoped would come up but nothing panned out. 

If you’re set on a story with lots of twists and turns then this probably isn’t for you, but if you want a wonderfully written thriller with well developed characters and fast paced chapters told from several interesting viewpoints, give this one a read.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Release date: July 28, 2016 in the UK and August 2 in the US.

Publisher: Harper Collins UK

Genre: Mystery/Psychological Thriller

Goodreads blurb:

Beautiful, creative, a little wild… Edie was the kind of girl who immediately caused a stir when she walked into your life. And she had dreams back then—but it didn’t take long for her to learn that things don’t always turn out the way you want them to.

Now, at thirty-three, Edie is working as a waitress, pregnant and alone. And when she becomes overwhelmed by the needs of her new baby and sinks into a bleak despair, she thinks that there’s no one to turn to…

But someone’s been watching Edie, waiting for the chance to prove once again what a perfect friend she can be. It’s no coincidence that Heather shows up on Edie’s doorstep, just when Edie needs her the most. So much has passed between them—so much envy, longing, and betrayal. And Edie’s about to learn a new lesson: those who have hurt us deeply—or who we have hurt—never let us go, not entirely… 

Review: 

This book is told alternately from Before and After a mysterious incident, with Edie narrating the After and Heather narrating the Before. As the unreliable narrator has been abundant in many psychological thrillers as of late, it only added to my distrust and wariness of both women, which I enjoyed. I love not knowing who to trust and trying to decode and decipher every word that comes out of a characters mouth. It adds an additional layer of suspense to an already suspenseful narrative.

Edie and Heather have a very bizarre friendship. Edie was a happy, pretty and outgoing teenager, while Heather was awkward, unpopular and odd. Despite their differences the unlikely pair become close friends. But what happened Before to tear them apart? And what does that have to do with their adult lives now?

There is quite a bit of buildup to what happened Before, then you jump to After where things are getting creepy and unsettling for Edie. You see, Edie has her baby all alone and she has no one to help her in her time of need. She’s lonely, isolated and in desperate need of a friend. Suddenly, Heather shows up just when she needs her the most and she swoops in to save the day. She helps out so much that it’s almost as if she’s taking over Edie’s life. Strange things begin to happen to Edie, things that are making her paranoid and frightened. Is it just a coincidence that this started while Heather arrived? Or are old, long buried secrets to blame? 

Once the details of Before are revealed, things start to fall in place. I was disgusted, angry and disappointed, yet it all made perfect sense. I would have liked a bit more closure in the end, but that is just me being greedy and always wanting a tidy ending with an epilogue, thank you very much. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Harper Collins UK for my copy in exchange for an honest review. 

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Release date: June 16, 2016

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Chick Lit

Goodreads blurb: 

Welcome to the Velvet Hotel Barbados where money and sex go hand in hand with murder …. 

When millionaire playboy Sheridan Rivers is found dead at his luxurious hotel on the paradise island of Barbados, there are several suspects in the frame… 

Sutton: Sheridan’s long-suffering wife was permanently pushed aside for his younger lovers. Was it time for her to make a stand? 

Kassidy: Sheridan’s assistant longs to be wealthy in her own right. Employed for her sexual and organisational skills, could she have had her eyes on a bigger prize? 

Nikki: Sheridan’s oldest daughter has done something really bad that her dad has discovered. What price will she pay to keep his silence? 

Heather: The apple of her father, Sheridan’s, eye. But she blames him for a terrible tragedy that turned her world upside down. Is the time ripe for revenge? 

Four women, each with a cross to bear – all waiting for the perfect moment to get even… 

This summer, pour yourself a glass of bubbly and escape with the elite to the golden beaches of Barbados for a sexy, scandalous romp that you won’t be able to put down. 

Review: 

Nigel May has been often compared to Jackie Collins, who I absolutely adored. Upon hearing these comparisons I knew that I had to immediately check out his work as I’ve been a fan of JC for years. I’m delighted to say that May fills up a part of the hole in my heart that appeared when the lovely Ms. Collins passed. 

This book is filled with a colorful cast of characters that are both fascinating and repelling. There are some who you loathe because they are absolutely vile, there are others that I adored for their strength, witty bitchiness and naughtiness. 

Sheridan Rivers is murdered right at the start of the book, then you go back to several months prior to his death. The man has no shortage of enemies as the reader soon discovers, and as his shocking misdeeds are revealed you can’t help but wonder how he managed to stay alive as long as he did.

Getting a glimpse inside the world of the fabulously wealthy is always so fun for me. Layered with exotic locales, sex, gossip, and glitz, this book takes you on one hell of a sexy ride. Every character has dirty little secrets hidden which adds intrigue and deceit to this spicy novel. 

This book is a perfect summer read as it is hip, current, racy and oh so entertaining. Grab a cocktail and head to the pool with a copy of Lovers and Liars for a light, breezy and devilishly naughty treat. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my copy in exchange for an honest review. 

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Release date: September 13, 2016

Publisher: Candlewick

Genre: YA

Goodreads blurb: 

How do you move on from an irreplaceable loss? In a poignant debut, a sixteen-year-old boy must learn to swim against an undercurrent of grief—or be swept away by it.

Otis and Meg were inseparable until her family abruptly moved away after the terrible accident that left Otis’s little brother dead and both of their families changed forever. Since then, it’s been three years of radio silence, during which time Otis has become the unlikely protégé of eighteen-year-old Dara—part drill sergeant, part friend—who’s hell-bent on transforming Otis into the Olympic swimmer she can no longer be. But when Otis learns that Meg is coming back to town, he must face some difficult truths about the girl he’s never forgotten and the brother he’s never stopped grieving. As it becomes achingly clear that he and Meg are not the same people they were, Otis must decide what to hold on to and what to leave behind. Quietly affecting, this compulsively readable debut novel captures all the confusion, heartbreak, and fragile hope of three teens struggling to accept profound absences in their lives.

It’s scheduled for fall 2016; Molly Jaffa at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management brokered the deal. 

Review: 

Otis, Meg and Dara make up this absolutely lovely cast of characters in Garner’s touching debut novel. A story of loss, grief and life, there is something magical about this book.

Otis. Sigh. What an absolutely charming young man. Garner beautifully captured the voice of a sixteen year old boy. He is wry, conflicted, painfully hurt, sensitive, very in tune with his emotions, yet he possesses a quiet strength. His brother Mason died in a tragic accident three years ago and nothing has been the same since. He lost his best friend Meg, right at the time the two thirteen year olds began to fall in love. His parents are irreparably damaged and just so broken. All he has left is Dara, his swimming coach with issues of her own.

Dara lost part of her arm in a horrible accident, thus ending her hopes of being an Olympic swimmer. She’s angry, sarcastic, smart, flawed, brutally honest but above all she is real. Her friendship with Otis is one of the most poignant and gorgeous relationships I’ve ever witnessed. They just get each other in a way that no one else does. It truly touched me deep within my heart.

Meg was Otis’ best friend and for a short while, his first love. Her and her family moved away after Mason died and the two never spoke again. But now, she’s coming back. What does this mean for Otis and Meg? How does Dara fit into all of this?

This book deals with some heavy issues; figuring out how to deal with ones sexuality, death, divorce, and mainly, how to move on after such a devastating loss without forgetting about the past. Is it possible to move on and still have hope for the future?

Even though the issues are heavy, Garner has a beautiful writing style. She truly captures all the feelings teenagers have; confusion, an overwhelming surge of hormones and new feelings, frustration, emotional upheaval. Her dialogue reads true and sounds like teenagers talking to each other, there is nothing false or stilted about it.

I literally cannot say enough good things about this captivating book and about Garner as an author. I cannot wait to see more from her and I predict that this book will be huge. I know that I will hold these precious characters in my own heart for a very long time. So go, pre order your copy now.

Overall rating: 5/5

Huge thanks to Candlewick Press and the Reading Room for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.