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Release date: May 28, 2024

Publisher: Scarlet

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Is it better to believe a lovely lie or know the horrible truth?

1999: The night of their senior picnic, Scarlett Russo and her best friend Pepper were involved in a car accident that left two of their classmates dead. Afterward, they lied to the police, protecting each other from the consequences. Then Pepper left town and Scarlett never heard from her again…

Now: Twenty-two years later, Scarlett has buried that deadly incident deep in her mind and built a comfortable life for herself, working in a hotel on the west coast of Florida and raising her teenage son with her husband Vince. Her peace is disrupted, however, when Pepper’s daughter shows up with news of Pepper’s death. Zoey is twenty-one and studying to be an investigative journalist. She has a cryptic letter from Pepper addressed to Scarlett that alludes to the events of that fateful night and Pepper’s initial intentions to get an abortion. Now Zoey wants answers about her mother’s past. Who is Zoey’s father? And what really happened after the senior picnic? As Zoey continues to dig into the past, all of Scarlett’s buried secrets threaten to rise to the surface.

Review:

Ahh this one was unhinged in the most fun way! It seemed like one of those pretty straightforward thrillers where I assumed I knew where it was going but I was pleasantly surprised by several of the twists. Was it a little dramatic? Absolutely but it was wickedly fun too. This one is full of unlikable characters and you hear from most of them at some point, but I love to hate devious people and this group was wild. There’s a fairly small cast of characters and the ways they were entangled was complicated and messy but it just made this one that much more insane. This was like the very definition of a popcorn thriller, it’s light yet pretty gripping, it’s scandalous and shocking and I promise you will be entertained by the characters antics.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: May 14, 2024

Publisher: Ballantine

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

Once upon a time, the Peacock sisters were little girls who combed each other’s tangled hair. But decades of secrets have led them to separate lives—and to telling lies, to themselves and to one another.

Sylvie is getting married. Again. A librarian and widow who soothes her grief by escaping into books (and shelving them perfectly), Sylvie has caught the attention of an unlikely match: Simon Rampling, a mysterious, wealthy man from Northern England. Sylvie allows herself to imagine a life beside him—one filled with the written word, kindness, and companionship. She’s ready to love again . . . or is she?

Cleo is the golden child. A successful criminal defense lawyer with the perfect boyfriend, she is immediately suspicious of Simon. Is he really who he says he is? Cleo heads to Mumberton Castle with a case of investigative files, telling herself she will expose Simon and save her sister from more heartbreak . . . but who is she really trying to save? 

Emma is living a lie. She can’t afford this fancy trip—and she definitely can’t tell her husband and sons why. She once dreamt of a line of her own perfumes. Fragrances allowed her to speak in silence. Now, that tendency for silence only worsens her situation. Will she emerge with her dignity and family intact?

When their toxic mother shows up, the sisters assume the roles they fell into to survive their childhood . . . but they just might find the courage to make new choices.

Set over a spectacularly dramatic weekend, in the grand halls of a sprawling castle estate—amidst floor-to-ceiling libraries, falconry lessons, and medieval meals—Lovers and Liars is the unforgettable story of a family’s ability to forgive and to find joy in one another once again.

Review:

I am always drawn to a story about sisters, something about that family dynamic never gets old to me and throw in some drama and I’m set. This follows the Peacock sisters and there was lots of secrets and drama in this family that kept me pretty entertained. Based on the title I knew there would also be lies obviously but I didn’t realize how big and dramatic some of them would be. None of the characters were super likable to me, but they were interesting enough and this one went by quickly. I really enjoyed the setting of the castle for Sylvie’s wedding and enjoyed the details and history highlighted throughout. I struggled a bit with some of the situations but overall this was mostly enjoyable for me. If you like family dramas with toxic relationships and complicated upbringings give this a try.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: May 7, 2024

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Detective Chelsey Calhoun’s life is turned upside down when she gets the call Ellie Black, a girl who disappeared years earlier, has resurfaced in the woods of Washington state—but Ellie’s reappearance leaves Chelsey with more questions than answers.

“I stayed up late into the night turning the pages until I learned the truth of what happened to Ellie—and gasped when Jean delivered a truly jaw-dropping twist.” —Jessica Knoll, New York Times bestselling author of Luckiest Girl Alive and Bright Young Women

It’s been twenty years since Detective Chelsey Calhoun’s sister vanished when they were teenagers, and ever since she’s been searching: for signs, for closure, for other missing girls. But happy endings are rare in Chelsey’s line of work.

Then a glimmer: local teenager Ellie Black, who disappeared without a trace two years earlier, has been found alive in the woods of Washington State.

But something is not right with Ellie. She won’t say where she’s been, or who she’s protecting, and it’s up to Chelsey to find the answers. She needs to get to the bottom of what happened to Ellie: for herself, and for the memory of her sister, but mostly for the next girl who could be taken—and who, unlike Ellie, might never return.

The debut thriller from New York Times bestselling author Emiko Jean, The Return of Ellie Black is both a feminist tour de force about the embers of hope that burn in the aftermath of tragedy and a twisty page-turner that will shock and surprise you right up until the final page.

Review:

I absolutely love a missing persons story, I never seem to tire of them but I love when the missing person returns even more so this one sounded right up my alley and it was! I was hooked from the start, of course I wanted to know where Ellie had been and who had kept her for two years but I was also very invested in Chelsey as well. She was such a well developed character, really all the characters were well drawn and the way her past shaped her as a detective was so interesting and heartbreaking. This one is pretty dark and disturbing and the psychological aspects on both Ellie and Chelsey were examined in detail making for some chilling reading. There are multiple viewpoints and the audio version had a terrific cast of narrators so if you like to listen to books I can highly recommend that version. Hearing parts of this out loud gave me serious chills and made this one all the more memorable than it already was. If you want a solid and twisty suspense this was excellent.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: April 9, 2024

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Still reeling from the chaos of their wedding, Evelyn and Richard arrive on a tiny Greek island for their honeymoon. It’s the end of the season and a storm is imminent. Determined to make the best of it, they check into the sun-soaked doors of the Villa Rosa. Already feeling insecure after seeing the “beautiful people,” the seemingly endless number of young models and musicians lounging along the Mediterranean, Evelyn is wary of the hotel’s owner, Isabella, who seems to only have eyes for Richard. 

Isabella ostensibly disapproves of every request Evelyn makes, seemingly annoyed at the fact that they are there at all. Isabella is also preoccupied with her chance to enthrall the only other guests—an American producer named Marcus and his partner Debbie—with the story of “the sleepwalkers,” a couple who had stayed at the hotel recently and drowned.

Everyone seems to want to talk about the sleepwalkers, save for Hamza, a young Turkish man Evelyn had seen with some “beautiful people,” as well as the “dapper little man”—the strange yet fashionable owner of the island’s lone antiques and gift shop she sees everywhere. 

But what at first seemed eccentric, decorative, or simply ridiculous, becomes a living nightmare. Evelyn and Richard are separated the night of the storm and forced to face dark truths, but it’s their confessions around the origins of their relationship and the years leading up to their marriage that might save them.

Exhilarating, suspenseful, and also very funny, The Sleepwalkers asks urgent questions about relationships, sexuality, and the darkest elements of contemporary society—where our most terrible secrets are hidden in plain sight.

Review:

You ever finish a book and wonder wtf you just read? And not in a good way? That’s me with this one. As soon as I started it I knew this would either be a love or hate it situation for me but I was interested enough that I wanted to see it all the way through and hoped it would be worth it and it just wasn’t for me at all. It’s very unique and told in letters but the first one didn’t end until forty three percent and good lord that just seemed excessive. The beginning tells you there’s ruined documents involved but as you read sentences are cut off or the voice changes abruptly and I know that was a specific choice but it wasn’t a good choice. It made it difficult to piece the story together and I think I’m a smart reader but this was confusing. The ending was such a letdown and left way too many questions, a decent premise but the execution was awful for me.

Overall rating: 2/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: April 23, 2024

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common.

Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it…right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.

Which is how Daphne begins her new story: Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.

Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads—Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?

But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex…right?

Review:

I was a little hesitant about the premise here, I mean two jilted individuals living together seemed like quite a stretch and this is coming from someone who reads tons of unrealistic romance, but I trust EH so I just went with it. So glad I did because despite my reservations that aspect didn’t really matter. Yeah, it was definitely a major plot point but there was so much more to this one. Daphne and Miles both have very fleshed out and unique characteristics as individuals and I absolutely adored them both. Their relationship was adorable and the authors signature banter shined like never before. Miles was the very definition of charming and Daphne was a bookworms Dream character. Their opposites attract, fake dating, forced proximity, friends to lovers story was fantastic and I couldn’t have loved them together anymore. The secondary characters were also great as was the setting and Miles showing Daphne his town was cute and made me feel like I was right there with them. It didn’t quite beat out Book Lovers for me but it was close!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: April 23, 2024

Publisher: St. Martin’s

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

For as long as they can remember, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been told how lucky they are. As young girls they were rescued from family tragedies and raised by a loving foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate and given an elusive second chance at a happy family life.

But their childhood wasn’t the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. Miss Fairchild had rules. Miss Fairchild could be unpredictable. And Miss Fairchild was never, ever to be crossed. In a moment of desperation, the three broke away from Miss Fairchild and thought they were free. Even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. When a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the foster sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?

Review:

There is always something about the authors books that makes it really hard for me to put them down once I start and this had me hooked quickly. Having read most of her other books I know she goes dark with her subject matter but this went even darker than I was expecting it to. There are some major triggers surrounding child abuse so just fyi there and there are many parts of this that are really disturbing and difficult to read about. This was a slow burn with a crazy ending that was a huge payoff for me even though I really did enjoy the entire thing, but the ending kinda blew me away. I love a story about an old murder coming to light so the mystery surrounding that aspect had me captivated and the way things all came together was really good. Overall another really solid read from a trusted author.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: April 30, 2024

Publisher: Blackstone

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

After their mother passes, three estranged siblings reunite to sort out her estate. 

Beth, the oldest, never left home. She stayed with her mom, caring for her until the very end. 

Nicole, the middle child, has been kept at arm’s length due to her ongoing battle with a serious drug addiction. 

Michael, the youngest, lives out of state and hasn’t been back to their small Wisconsin town since their father ran out on them seven years before. 

While going through their parent’s belongings, the siblings stumble upon a collection of home videos and decide to revisit those happier memories. However, the nostalgia is cut short when one of the VHS tapes reveals a night back in 1999 that none of them have any recollection of. On screen, their father appears covered in blood. What follows is a dead body and a pact between their parents to get rid of it, before the video abruptly ends. Beth, Nicole, and Michael must now decide whether to leave the past in the past or uncover the dark secret their mother took to her grave.

Review:

I almost didn’t try this one because I really didn’t enjoy the authors last book but I decided to give her another chance. I’m really glad I did because I liked this one so much more, it’s actually kind of hard for me to believe it’s the same author because my experience was so different. Anyway, this was a solid domestic suspense that follows three siblings and their dynamic was so interesting. There is tons of bickering and hostility between them that added to an already tense situation. The pacing was quick and the premise was unique, I liked the nostalgia of the family finding a dark secret on an old VHS tape. The mystery itself was decent, I kind of had a feeling about the big twist but that didn’t take me out of the story too much. Definitely a fun popcorn thriller to binge read over a weekend!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: July 9, 2024

Publisher: Emily Bestler

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

After experiencing a terrible loss, New York City psychiatrist Meredith McCall feels painfully adrift. When she crosses paths with a man with whom she has a tragic connection, she follows him, sparking an unhealthy obsession with Gabriel Wright. How is he doing so well while her life is in shambles?

But when Gabriel walks into her office as a patient, seemingly unaware of who she is, she knows it crosses all ethical and moral bounds to treat him. Yet, Meredith can’t bring herself to turn him away and becomes further entangled. With her life and career continuing to unravel, it appears that things could not get any worse…until they do.

Review:

Well that was a wild and fun ride! You know how every one in a while a book comes along that totally consumes you while you’re reading it? The kind that has you totally addicted and you basically don’t put it down until you’ve finished? That was exactly my reading experience with this one. It had me in a chokehold from the very beginning and it never let up for me until I finished it. The synopsis of this one is pretty vague and brief and that’s purposeful because you don’t really need to know more about this one before you start it. If it sounds at all good to you give it a try. Or if you like fast paced and intriguing reads that make you question everything try it. It’s so good, I had so much fun with it and I think if you enjoy domestic thrillers about obsession you will too.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: April 16, 2024

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

After a tumultuous childhood, Christa Liddle has hidden away, both figuratively and literally. Happily studying sea snails in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Christa finds her tranquil existence thrown into chaos when her once-famous father—long thought dead after a plane crash—turns out to be alive, well, and ready to make amends. The world goes wild, fascinated by this real-life saga, pinning Christa and her family under the spotlight. As if that weren’t enough, her reunion with an old childhood friend reveals an intense physical attraction neither was expecting and both want to act on . . . if they can just keep a lid on it. When her father’s story starts to develop cracks, Christa fears she will lose herself, her potential relationship, and—most importantly—any chance of making it back to her snails before they forget her completely.

Review:

I have really enjoyed several of the authors books, her style is funny and charming and she always writes memorable characters with plenty of quirks and this was no exception. Everything about this one was unique, maybe to the point of some silliness but I didn’t even care because it was so much fun. A believable plot? No, not exactly. But believable characters and authentic reactions and family dynamics? I think so. I would say this is mostly a complicated family drama steeped in humor that doesn’t take itself seriously whatsoever with a side of romance. While all the quirky characters won me over at first meeting I was most charmed by Christa herself. She’s funny, a mess, introverted, nerdy, intelligent, interesting and self deprecating. As the sole narrator of the story she was wildly entertaining and the author did a great job of showing character growth with her by the end. Overall this one was a delight and I think it would make for a perfect vacation read.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: April 9, 2024

Publisher: Graydon House

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

When Anna Hartley’s husband, Henry, calls her with a terrible, guilty confession, she can’t believe what she hears. It has to be a bad joke—the mild, predictable artist she married would never hurt a fly, let alone commit murder. But her confusion turns to horror when police find his body washed up on the banks of the Rio Grande. 

Desperate for answers to the millions of questions his untimely death has raised, Anna checks in to The Sycamores, the run-down motel turned apartment Henry rented as an art studio. As she absorbs every bit of gossip the eclectic mix of residents are willing to share about her husband and each other, she begins to piece together a picture of a very different man than the one she married, and the life he led behind her back. The more she learns, and the less sense things seem to make, she finds herself wondering: Did she ever really know Henry at all? 

But Henry’s secrets aren’t the only ones; as Anna’s search for clues expands, Cass, the mysterious, jaded motel manager, seems more and more determined to keep Anna in the dark. And when threatening letters start appearing at her door, Anna has to decide what’s more important—the truth, or her own safety.

Review:

Ok this one was so damn fun! I know I can count on the author for a totally entertaining popcorn thriller that’s fast paced and addictive but this had something extra that made this wildly appealing to me. The something extra for me was the characters in this slightly wacky thriller. The majority of the book takes place at The Sycamores which was such an atmospheric and slightly depressing setting. The residents of the complex were something else, all kinds of down on their luck people with larger than life personalities, especially the pool moms. Those ladies cracked me up! You hear from Cass and Anna in alternating chapters and this really kept the plot moving for me in a fast paced manner. There were several great reveals throughout and I appreciated the way the author placed them, again it kept things swiftly moving along and I finished this in just a couple of sittings. Overall this was a blast, definitely pick it up if you want to be totally entertained and enjoy a well plotted mystery.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.