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Release date: July 26, 2016

Publisher: Little Brown

Genre: Mystery/Thriller 

Blurb: 

Katie and Eric Knox have dedicated their lives to their fifteen-year-old daughter Devon, a gymnastics prodigy and Olympic hopeful. But when a violent death rocks their close-knit gymnastics community just weeks before an all-important competition, everything the Knoxes have worked so hard for feels suddenly at risk. As rumors swirl among the other parents, revealing hidden plots and allegiances, Katie tries frantically to hold her family together while also finding herself drawn, irresistibly, to the crime itself, and the dark corners it threatens to illuminate. From a writer with “exceptional gifts for making nerves jangle and skin crawl,” (Janet Maslin) You Will Know Me is a breathless rollercoaster of a novel about the desperate limits of desire, jealousy, and ambition. 

Review: 

Much like Abbott’s previous novel, Dare Me this book explores the world of teenage girls, but this time instead of cheerleading, it’s the cutthroat world of gymnastics. I’ve always been totally intrigued by gymnastics, though it’s nothing I’ve ever attempted myself, and though I thought I knew just how brutal this industry can be, You Will Know Me was an real eye opener for me. 

Katie and Eric’s daughter, Devon is the rare type of gymnast that only comes along once in awhile. She could be an Olympian one day and her parents have dedicated their entire lives to ensure her success. Things are told from Katie’s point of view, which is a bit different for Abbott, but for the most part I liked this approach. The strain and pressure that Devon is under to be such an elite athlete is crazy, but her parents are bearing the weight of the world on their shoulders as well. There is a heavy financial strain, countless hours lost driving to practice and meets, fellow parents that are intense and jealous, and the worst part of all (for me at least) is that Devon’s younger brother, Drew is pretty much forgotten about. 

My favorite part of this book was the look into this insane world. The families at the gym Devon is a part of were morbidly fascinating. Everyone is very close, it’s a tight knit community, but at the same time everyone is uber competitive. You have families that are literally sacrificing everything for their daughters, at any and every expense you can dream of. When someone closely related to the gym is killed, things ramp up even more and the tension is palpable.

The mystery aspect here didn’t work so great for me, I found it a tad predictable. Had I not been so caught up by the gymnastics, I probably would’ve been more disappointed.I wasn’t very satisfied by the ending either, and as a whole I would’ve liked to see a little more depth in the characters, maybe this is due to everything being told from Katie’s perspective, I’m not sure. I wasn’t a big fan of the majority of the characters either, Devon especially was so cold, she always had a laser like focus even when she was at home and school. I had a huge soft spot for poor little Drew though.

 Abbott’s writing style is razor sharp and intense and there was an underlying sense of dread throughout, which undoubtedly made me give her a pass for a so so “twist”. If you’re already a fan of Abbott’s then you’ll enjoy this I think. Or if you want to read a very dark book about the competitive world of gymnastics, give this a try. But if you want a surprising mystery, this isn’t it.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to Little and Brown for my review copy.

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Release date: December 6, 2016

Publisher: Lake Union 

Genre: Women’s Fiction 

Blurb: 

From the bestselling author of Everything We Keep comes a gripping tale of long-buried secrets, the strength of forgiveness, and the healing power of returning home for good.

After a harrowing accident tore her family apart, Molly Brennan fled from the man she loved and the tragic mistake she made.

Twelve years later, Molly has created a new life for herself and her eight-year-old daughter, Cassie. The art history professor crafts jewelry as unique and weathered as the surf-tumbled sea glass she collects, while raising her daughter in a safe and loving environment—something Molly never had. But when Cassie is plagued by horrific visions and debilitating nightmares, Molly is forced to return to the one place she swore she’d never move back to—home to Pacific Grove.

A riveting exploration of love, secrets, and motherhood, All the Breaking Waves is the poignant story of a woman who discovers she must confront her past, let go of her guilt, and summon everything in her power to save her daughter. 

Review: 

I absolutely loved Lonsdale’s debut novel Everything We Keep and after reading her follow up All The Breaking Waves I am now an even bigger fan. This book had all the same wonderful elements that shone so beautifully in EWK; polished writing, a gripping plot and characters that leave a lasting impression.

Molly was a character that I could relate to on all levels. She’s a mom who loves her eight year old daughter, Cassie and will do anything to protect her. I have an eight year old daughter as well, so this definitely struck a chord with me. All of the women in their family have special gifts in the form of premonitions and while this sounds inherently amazing, there are definitely downfalls. Molly struggles to let Cassie live the life of a normal little girl despite her special gifts. I can’t imagine trying to explain paranormal abilities to a child when they don’t even make sense to most adults. 

This is so much more than a typical women’s fiction novel, it seamlessly blends genres in a style that is uniquely Lonsdale’s own. There is suspense, magical realism, drama, deep family histories,  and romance. Somehow this all works perfectly and even though I don’t normally read much with a paranormal aspect, it added something special to the story here.

There were some nice twists here, which for some reason I didn’t expect, I’m not sure why, I should have known better after all the turns in EWK! Lonsdale has a spellbinding quality to her writing that make her books real page turners. There are also several themes present here and some great discussions could stem from the topics, perfect for a book club.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Lake Union for my review copy.

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Release date: January 1, 2017

Publisher: Orenda Books

Genre: Psychological Thriller 

Blurb: 

Andy Boyd thinks he is the luckiest man alive. Widowed with a young child, after his wife dies in childbirth, he is certain that he will never again experience true love. Then he meets Anna. Feisty, fun and beautiful, she’s his perfect match, and she loves his son like he is her own. When Andy ends up in the hospital on his wedding night, he receives his first clue that Anna is not all that she seems. Desperate for that happy-ever-after, he ignores it—a dangerous mistake that could cost him everything. 

Review: 

Remember a few months back when I was raving everywhere I possibly could about Behind Closed Doors? I even said it was domestic noir at its finest. I still adore that book, but A Suitable Lie is edging it out of it’s spot now. This book really gets under your skin, it consumes you and I mean that in the best possible way. 

I don’t think this is a huge spoiler, but just in case here is your warning. Andy and Anna are in a abusive relationship, but the unique twist here is that Anna is the abuser and Andy is the victim. There are loads of books about domestic violence where women are being abused, but there are not many with a male victim. Malone sheds some light on an important issue in a profound and harrowing manner. 

I totally fell in love with Andy right from the start. He’s bold, funny, vivacious, strong, and loving. He’s a single father as his first wife, Patricia passed away. When he meets Anna, he’s immediately drawn to her and as they fall in love he feels like the happiest man alive. As soon as the marriage begins, Anna reveals a side of herself that is ugly and cold. As the story progresses, watching the breakdown of Andy truly broke my heart. Seeing him shrink and wither away before my eyes was both upsetting and unsettling. He became a shell of his own self and was almost completely unrecognizable. The beauty of this unraveling is that as a reader I was able to experience the awful transformation of Andy right along with him. This brought up so many different feelings that by the end, I was emotionally spent. I don’t mean that in a negative way, it was quite the experience and it left a lasting impression with me that I won’t soon forget.

A Suitable Lie is exquisitely crafted and tightly plotted. Watching a dysfunctional relationship was much like watching a car accident in that I couldn’t look away even if it was painful to watch. This book is truly special and unforgettable, I was moved to tears more than once but there were also moments of joy and laughter. I can’t recommend it more highly and I only hope that my review conveyed how highly I regard both this novel and the author. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Karen at Orenda Books for my review copy.

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Release date: September 8, 2016

Publisher: Bonnier Zaffre 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller 

Blurb: 

For fans of Twin Peaks and The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair, this brilliant debut is dark yet hilarious, suspenseful and sad.

Everyone has a secret in Tall Oaks . . .

When three-year-old Harry goes missing, the whole of America turns its attention to one small town.

Everyone is eager to help. Everyone is a suspect.

Desperate mother Jess, whose grief is driving her to extreme measures.

Newcomer Jared, with an easy charm and a string of broken hearts in his wake.

Photographer Jerry, who’s determined to break away from his controlling mother once and for all.

And, investigating them all, a police chief with a hidden obsession of his own . . .

In Chris Whitaker’s brilliant and original debut novel, missing persons, secret identities and dangerous lies abound in a town as idiosyncratic as its inhabitants. 

Review: 

My last read was a massive disappointment so I decided to pick up Tall Oaks after it had come highly recommended from both Annie at The Misstery and Renee at It’s Book Talk. I am so glad that they brought this gem of a book to my attention as it has a firm spot in my top reads of the year!

I’m sure we’ve all seen and read plenty of books that claim that everyone has secrets, then you read it and are left wondering, that was the big secret? The opposite happens here, everyone really does have a secret and they are all mind blowing and surprising. Three year old Harry has been missing for months and many residents of Tall Oaks are affected by his disappearance. Things like this just don’t happen in the town, which by the way, the town is a character in itself. I’m not sure if small town America has ever been portrayed so brilliantly before.

The characters in this book make it stand out above others. They are all complex, well developed and they make you feel something. You may love them, hate them, feel unsettled and uncomfortable by them, but you won’t forget them easily. Jessica is Harry’s mom and she’s been in a downward spiral ever since her son vanished. Jim is the chief of police and this is the case that will always haunt him. Jerry works at the local photo shop and he stole a piece of my heart. Jared is a mysterious outsider and his secret is a huge one. Then, my favorite was Manny. This kid was one of the best characters I’ve come across in quite awhile (and I read a lot, 243 books so far this year). He’s politically incorrect, and unapologetic about it, he has the mouth of a sailor, he’s crude, and most of what comes out of his mouth is for the shock value alone. But underneath all the false bravado he’s sensitive and smart. He is so funny, he fancies himself an old school gangster and tries to shake down local businesses. I had tears from laughing so hard, I don’t think I’ve ever been so tickled while reading a thriller before!

As much as the mystery plays a central role here, this is so much more than your typical thriller. It’s one of those books that makes you feel every emotion imaginable. It has appeal to any reader, there’s even a sweet romance developing between Manny and Furat for the YA crowd. 

I don’t often feel compelled to reread a book but I really want to here. This really needs to be a movie, these characters deserve to be brought to life. I’ll miss every single one of them and will think of them often. The ending and beginning of this book was utterly perfect, it had one of the best opening chapters I’ve ever read. And the twists were unexpected and totally unpredictable. I can’t recommend this one enough and I can’t wait to read what Whitaker comes up with next.

Overall rating: 5/5

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Release date: November 15, 2016

Publisher: Henry Holt

Genre: YA/Contemporary Romance 

Blurb: 

Pen Lupo is sick and tired of hiding who she is. On the outside, Pen is popular, quiet, and deferential to her boyfriend. On the inside, however, Pen is honest, opinionated–and not quite sure that she’s like other girls. Do they have urges like she does?

His classmates may consider him a nerd, but Benedict Pendleton knows he’s destined for great things. All he has to do is find a worthy girlfriend, and his social station will be secured. Sure, Benedict is different–but that’s what he likes about himself.

When fate intervenes, both Pen and Benedict end up at the same vacation resort for winter break. Despite their differences, the two are drawn together. But is there such a thing as happily ever after for a nympho and a nerd?

Review: 

Ugh you guys. This was a painful and cringeworthy read. That pretty much sums up my thoughts on this book. Just ugh. I hate writing negative reviews, I really do. But I cannot allow some other unsuspecting soul to think like me and say, oh this sounds cute and original! It’s not. It tries really hard to be but it misses the mark by like a mile. I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway and thank god, because I would’ve been pissed had I actually spent money on this.

There’s two POV here, Pen and Benedict. Pen is popular and sex obsessed. Weird that’s how I describe her, right? I have no choice because the author ensured that ninety nine percent of what she thought about was sex. She talks about how much she masturbates constantly, then as if that isn’t enough, there are multiple scenes where she’s masturbating as well. Look, maybe I’m just old, or prudish, but I don’t want to imagine a sixteen year old girl masturbating, much less have to read about it in detail. I felt like a voyeuristic creep way more than I’m comfortable admitting. 

Benedict has more substance to him than Pen, but honestly, that’s not saying much. He’s a nerd but he is overly confident and doesn’t care what anyone thinks. He’s unabashedly honest and totally awkward. Oh but behind all that he’s gorgeous, because of course he is. This hit every annoying YA trope you can think of.

My biggest gripe, (and I have many) is that there was so much shaming going on. Fat shaming, slut shaming, nerd shaming, it went on and on. Then, everyone used the word retard or retarded as an insult all the time. Even the adults! Why? This is not ok, it’s disgusting and totally insulting. 

This is way too risqué and sexually explicit for a YA novel. It’s recommended for kids 14-18 and there is no way in hell that I would be comfortable recommending this to a freshman. No way. I can see where the author was trying to go and a message of self acceptance was there, but it was hidden beneath insta love, terrible language and overused tropes. 

There was one thing I liked and it’s only fair to point out, but the acknowledgment  was awesome. The characters in the book helped write it and that was unique and fresh.

Overall rating: 1.5/5

Thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for my copy.