Goodreads

Release date: September 14, 2022

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

We were all there that prom night, but one of us didn’t make it home…

Ten years ago: We laughed together on the dance floor that night, our dresses glittering in the swirling lights. One final night of fun before the rest of our lives. We couldn’t have known that for one of us, it would be our last…

Now: They say that I’m the lucky one, the survivor. But no one knows the truth—the thing I’ve been running from all this time. How I escaped.

Back in my hometown a decade later—the place I’ve avoided—I can feel the questioning eyes on me, the whispers. The rumors.

I can’t shake the feeling that I am being followed, the shadow of a reflection in the glass storefronts, the murmur of footsteps before I turn to look. But no one’s ever there, and I tell myself it’s all in my head. Then the anonymous messages land in my inbox, overly familiar and insistent: I’m watching. I’ve been waiting for you.

I should have known I couldn’t run forever. I want to feel safe surrounded by my best friends. But everyone has something to hide, and I don’t know who I can trust.

Someone out there won’t let me forget what really happened that night, what I promised. What if, this time, I’m not so lucky?

Review:

Ohhh this was a pacey and clever little thriller. I really liked the basic setup here, especially that Norah was able to trick a serial killer back when she was in high school into letting her go. Obviously I immediately needed to know how because I just knew anyone who could manage that was someone that would be interesting to read about. Norah was definitely fascinating, she took all her fear and anger surrounding her past trauma and channeled it into a career for herself as she’s now a famous MMA fighter and coach. Seriously badass! So I was definitely rooting for Norah and then you have this exciting and fast paced storyline that really kept me engaged. The chapters were short and many ended on a small cliffhanger which really made me want to keep reading. The author did a pretty good job at misdirecting the reader and I had fun trying to figure out who the killer was. My first by the author but definitely not my last, definitely a fun binge read with good tension and thrills.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: August 9, 2022

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis: When Amaya is invited to Kaavi’s over-the-top wedding in Sri Lanka, she is surprised and a little hurt to hear from her former best friend after so many years of radio silence. But when Amaya learns that the groom is her very own ex-boyfriend, she is consumed by a single thought: She must stop the wedding from happening, no matter the cost.

But as the weeklong wedding celebrations begin and rumors about Amaya’s past begin to swirl, she can’t help but feel like she also has a target on her back. When Kaavi goes missing and is presumed dead, all evidence points to Amaya.

However, nothing is as it seems as Jayatissa expertly unravels that each wedding guest has their own dark secret and agenda, and Amaya may not be the only one with a plan to keep the bride from getting her happily ever after…

Review:

This was one of those reads that took me awhile to get into, but once I was settled in, I was super into it! For me the slowish start paid off in the end, so patience may be required but it does get interesting.

The author did a great job with the format, it’s told both in the present and a few months before the wedding and there are interview transcripts interspersed from various wedding guests that reveal so much juicy gossip. I really liked the look inside Sri Lankan culture and traditions and the lavish wedding was so fun. There’s a lot of dark humor here which I enjoy in a thriller and I found it to be smart and sharp in such a wicked way. I think this is one of those thrillers where the readers enjoyment really hinges on the twist. I didn’t have it fully figured out ahead of time so I ended up really liking the direction it took, but if you guess it early I don’t think you’ll be impressed. I say this because I guessed the twist in the authors debut and I was bummed so just wanted to put it out there. But overall I do recommend it and think if you like whodunnits with lots of secrets this was a fun one.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: August 9, 2022

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Commitment-phobe Nina Lejeune lives by two rules:
1. Always have fun.
2. Don’t rely on anyone but yourself.
The first rule is easy; the second, she’s only broken once.

Ten years after fleeing home, Nina is the chief stewardess on the super yacht Serendipity, single by choice, and perfectly content with how life has turned out.

But Nina’s ex-coworker and old flame, Irish chef Ollie Dunne, isn’t so happy with the status quo. One year after leaving yachting, he’s returned as the Serendipity’s chef with an ultimatum: if Nina continues to deny she’s in love with him by the end of this charter season, he’ll go back to Ireland for good.

Nina and Ollie’s shared secret from their past threatens to shipwreck not only their relationship, but the entire boat. But as their connection grows amidst chaotic guests and crew drama, could there be smooth sailing in their future?

Review:

I absolutely loved the first book in this series when I read it last year and have been so looking forward to getting to read Nina and Ollie’s story and I’m so glad it lived up to the hype for me! It had a different feel to it than the first book, which was a good thing because to me it just showed that the author is multifaceted and able to still right such an amazing romance just with a different feel. I think the biggest difference I noticed was this one was more angsty, but not in an annoying way. Nina and Ollie’s pain came from such a relatable place and I was rooting for them SO hard. They had amazing chemistry which lead to some wickedly funny banter and so much sarcasm. If you like romances with depth, some summery vibes and are a fan of Below Deck this is a must!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: August 16, 2022

Publisher: Blackstone

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Movie-making can be murder.

The project
Final Draft, a psychological horror. Promising Young Thing Steve Dade will direct.

The tagline
‘Based on a terrifying true story. That hasn’t happened – yet.’

The location
A cottage deep in a forest, miles from anywhere in the wintry wilds of West Cork.

The lead
Former soap-star Adele Rafferty has stepped in to replace the original actress at the very last minute. She can’t help but hope that this will be her big break.

The problem
Something isn’t quite right on the set of Final Draft.
Adele is about to discover that the real horror lies off the page…

Review:

I am a huge fan of the author and I always appreciate that she comes up with exciting premises with each book and this being set during the making of a movie was super interesting for me. There was so much about this one that I loved. It had a creepy, isolated atmosphere that added to the tension of the story in such a bold and dramatic way. The format was also great, think book inception with a movie being filmed with a book as a major plot point and also excerpts from the script as well. Definitely a lot going on but I wasn’t put off or confused by it, in fact I really enjoyed the parallels between the script and what was happening with Adele. I was super into this one until the very end, I thought it was underwhelming and slightly mediocre BUT I will still say I recommend it. I think I have super high expectations for the author and just expected to be blown away, but overall this was still an intense and entertaining read.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: July 25, 2022

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Ryan Hutton has spent his entire life being the shy, nerdy, rule-following nice guy on Summersweet Island. He’s the high school bowling coach and algebra teacher, who’s always predictable, and he’s always been fine with that. At least until a sexy nutjob gives him the best kiss of his life in his favorite pizza place. Suddenly, he doesn’t like being the quiet, obedient nice guy anymore.⁣
⁣
When Danica Brewster first set foot on this beautiful island a few days ago, she just wanted a place to call home—far, far away from her family. A place where she could be wild and free without their judgment. When she finds out her new roommate is the stranger she kissed for free pizza, Danica knows this is a complication she definitely doesn’t need in her life right now.⁣
⁣
However, the memory of that kiss is making them 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 act out of character. Ryan and Danica soon realize you can’t ignore your problems and hope they’ll go away. Those problems will just come back with a vengeance, tossing everything into the gutter.⁣
⁣
It doesn’t make sense for a nerd to fall in love with a nutjob, but with the magic of Summersweet Island, anything is possible… especially if you have enough balls.⁣

Review:

I’ll just start by saying that while this is the sixth book in the Summersweet Island series it could be read as a standalone BUT I’ll tell you why that’s a bad idea. This series is one of my faves when I want to legitimately laugh out loud, every book is hilarious and I’ve become super attached to each couple. So reading them all in order provides you with the ultimate experience so I definitely recommend all six books. They’re seriously so so good!

It’s always awesome to be reunited with the residents of the island and they’re every bit as outrageous and silly as ever. I’ve been super curious about Ryan for awhile now and he was the absolute cutest, sweetest most adorable hero ever and he may have even edged Bohdi out for my favorite male islander now. Danny was also awesome and I loved how she brought Ryan out of his shell and brought out a new side to him while still very much appreciating his true self. I always say I’ll pace myself when I read one of these books but I lied again and finished in a day. Sigh. I am really hoping the next book follows Spencer and Melanie and will be counting down the days until I’m back on the island.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: August 9, 2022

Publisher: Dutton

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

From E. G. Scott, the utterly gripping tale of three couples whose game night goes horribly wrong. Full of twists and turns that you’ll never see coming, this is the summer read you won’t be able to put down.

Once a week, three women get together for book club in Kingsland, a private, gated community full of neighbors looking to do their business away from prying eyes. On the same night, their husbands meet up to play poker, where much more is being planned than anyone could guess.

But on this particular night, something goes terribly wrong. When all three men end up dead or hospitalized, and the entire town is being questioned, no one seems to be able to answer the only question that really needs asking: What the hell happened?

This is a riveting story, not just of powerful women or vengeful men, but of secrets, neighbors, blackmail, business gone wrong, and the most intimate of desires spilling into full view.

Review:

One thing that this author duo does really well is they write a gripping premise that pulls you in immediately and they keep you on the edge of your seat as they hop back and forth between points of view and this was no exception. You also have not only one, but two dead bodies and another that may hit survive so there is a ton going on here right off of the bat. The pacing was fast and furious and most of the chapters were short and ended with more questions than answers which is always a tactic I enjoy. As with their prior books you get the perspectives of two cops, Silvestri and Walcott and I always like that police procedural angle. This had plenty of drama between all three couples as well as the residents of their exclusive neighborhood and made for a pretty delicious and wicked summer read. A tad over the top? Absolutely but I like a bit of that in a summer thriller.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: July 19, 2022

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Photographer Cassie Harris loves her job—her company Buxom Boudoir makes people look beautiful and feel empowered with her modern twist on classic pinup photography. Cassie’s best friend, Dana, is about to launch her own dangerously dreamy lingerie line and wants Cassie to shoot and direct the career-changing national campaign. But company politics and Dana’s complicated pregnancy interfere, and Cassie finds herself—a proud plus size Black woman—not behind the camera but in front of it.

Though she’s never modeled herself, Cassie’s pretty sure she can handle the sheer underwear and caution tape bralettes. She’s not sure she can work so intimately with the chosen photographer, her long-time competitor in the Chicago photography scene, Reid Montgomery. Their chemistry is undeniable on set, however, and feelings can develop faster than film…

Review:

I really loved the premise of this one with Cassie going from photographer to model and I adored the fact that she was a plus sized Black woman as well. The author did a great job sharing Cassie’s experiences as not only a woman in the industry but as a Black woman and I enjoyed Cassie’s transformation from a sometimes doormat to a strong woman who finally stands up for herself and gets the life she wants and deserves. This one brought some heat too, Reid and Cassie taking lingerie pictures made for some sexy foreplay and their chemistry was hot. Cassie and Reid both have some friends that made up a fun supporting cast too, so overall a well balanced read. I thought this was funny, sexy and a great representation for body positivity.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: August 12, 2022

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Thriller

Synopsis:

The best of friends keep the deadliest secrets…

Jo is my best friend. From high school to adulthood, we’ve gone through everything together. Even when I made a foolish mistake and betrayed her in the worst way, she forgave me. She’s godmother to my son and our lives are intertwined. We want the best for each other, always.

I hope she approves of my new boyfriend Noah. How could she not? Noah is kind, attentive and loves me for who I am. But when I introduce them over dinner one evening, Jo doesn’t look happy. She’s always been protective of me and as Noah clutches my hand, I force her reaction to the back of my mind.

But later Jo tells me that someone is threatening her and she fears for her life. And all too soon, the threats land at my door too. At first it’s small things: my precious roses destroyed, my mail sabotaged. But when I receive a note saying, “I want your life,” I’m terrified.

Someone wants to cause me harm. They’re prepared to take everything I love. But are they closer to me than I could have ever imagined?

Review:

I absolutely love a domestic thriller that is dramatic and maybe even a little over the top in a soap opera kind of way and this one delivered on all fronts! There was lots of unreliability, seriously as it flipped back and forth between Jo and Abi’s perspective I had no idea who was telling the truth or lying. Maybe both? Such a mindfuck in the best way. I sped through this really fast because I couldn’t stop reading, give me all the drama and I’m entertained. It was juicy and surprising and while I did figure out one twist only right before it happened it didn’t bother me in the slightest because this was the best popcorn thriller I’ve read in awhile! Definitely would be ideal to read by the pool this summer.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.