Tag: #bookreview

Review: Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle

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Goodreads

Release date: March 19, 2024

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Romance

Synopsis:

Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man, she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it—the exact amount of time they will be together. The papers told her she’d spend three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a name: Jake. 

But as Jake and Daphne’s story unfolds, Daphne finds herself doubting the paper’s prediction, and wrestling with what it means to be both committed and truthful. Because Daphne knows things Jake doesn’t, information that—if he found out—would break his heart. 

Told with her signature warmth and insight into matters of the heart, Rebecca Serle has finally set her sights on romantic love. The result is a gripping, emotional, passionate, and (yes) heartbreaking novel about what it means to be single, what it means to find love, and ultimately how we define each of them for ourselves. Expiration Dates is the one fans have been waiting for.

Review:

I have mixed ratings and thoughts when it comes to this author but I have to say, this is definitely one of my favorites from her. Her books are always quick, short reads and this one packs quite a punch with some really unexpected twists that got me good. I had no idea how this would end but the direction the author went was so great for me and it’s narrated by Julia Whelan so the audio version was a must for me. She’s just so damn good!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner

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Release date: March 12, 2024

Publisher: Grand Central

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

No man truly fears a woman. Not even one who is her father’s daughter.

The case was sensational. Kaylee Pierson had confessed from the very beginning, waived all appeals. She had called herself “death,” but people called her the devil. Despite the media’s chronicling of her tragic circumstances—the childhood spent with a violent father—no one could find sympathy for “the Beautiful Butcher” who had led eighteen men home from bars before viciously slitting their throats.

Now, with only twenty-one days left to live, Pierson has finally received a lead on the whereabouts of the sister who was kidnapped over a decade ago, and she needs Frankie’s help to find her. The Beautiful Butcher’s offer:

When was the last time your search ended with finding the living?

Unable to resist the chance for a rescue, Frankie takes on Pierson’s request. Twelve years ago, five-year old Leilani went missing in Hawaii. The main suspect? Pierson’s tech mogul ex-boyfriend, Sanders MacManus. Now, on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific—the site of MacManus’s latest vanity project—fresh evidence has appeared. In order to learn the truth and possibly save a young woman’s life, Frankie must go undercover at the isolated base camp. Her A dozen strangers. Countless dangerous secrets. Zero means of calling for help. And then the storm rolls in…

Review:

This is the third book in the Frankie Elkin series and it is best if you read them in order because there are some minor spoilers here. Frankie is still dealing with the repercussions from the last book and she references previous events a few times so definitely go back to the first two books, they’re SO good! Frankie is exactly the type of character who can truly carry a thriller series, she’s highly complex and very interesting and with every book a new piece of the puzzle of Frankie is revealed making me only want to know more.

Although I was interested in the story right away it does take some time for things to really get going but the journey to get to the true action was still entertaining for me. Frankie is undercover for this case posing as an employee and she’s as out of her element as she was in the last book. The location of the island and how very isolated everyone is added so much tension and unsettling feelings to the story, I always love when a beautiful locale is the setting for something creepy and this definitely had that. The twists were really good and I definitely didn’t see them coming and the last quarter was really gripping. LG is such a trusted author for me, she always delivers and this one was fantastic.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: The Stranger by Kiersten Modglin

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Release date: February 1, 2024

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Never trust a stranger…But, late at night and trapped in the middle of nowhere during a terrible snowstorm, Tibby and Walker have no choice.With roads shutting down and cell towers out, running into each other and deciding to travel together could either be their saving grace or worst mistake. When they’re forced to take an unexpected detour and seek refuge in a roadside motel, the storm quickly becomes the least of their worries.A disturbing discovery in the motel, the questionable actions of the mysterious owner and fellow guests, and a news report about a missing couple in the area set the scene for a terrifying night, but the worst is yet to come.Each stranger holds a secret…but which one should be trusted?From million-copy bestselling author Kiersten Modglin comes a fast-paced, heart-pounding thriller filled with secrets, lies, and hairpin twists and turns as dangerous as the icy roads the story is set upon.

Review:

I really liked the setup for this one and especially the idea of being forced to trust and rely on a stranger or even more than one and found myself wondering throughout the book how I would react and what decisions I would make. Knowing that all of these people had some sort of secret they were keeping really had me switching back and forth on who was trustworthy and who wasn’t and as clues were slowly revealed I still never quite figured it out before things were over. This was a snappy read, very short but also incredibly fast paced with a lot of action packed in a small package and it begs to be read in a single sitting. It’s also perfect for this time of year if you’re a seasonal reader because it’s set during an epic snow storm which gives everything an added dangerous feeling. I always have fun with the authors books and I sure did here too!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Review: The Wedding Party by L. R. Jones

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Release date: February 13, 2024

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

For a bride-to-be and her fiancé, secrets and lies make this a killer celebration in this psychological suspense. Carrie and Oliver. A couple completely in love and the hosts of a wedding to remember at Colorado’s legendary Stanley Hotel. This is Carrie’s fairy tale come true. Her fiancé, Oliver, is Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome; successful; and utterly devoted to her. Now family and friends have gathered to celebrate. It’s sure to be a wild night as the drinks flow freely and the fun begins. But the morning after is murder. FBI agent Andi Castle was just supposed to be a plus-one. This should have been a calming weekend getaway from what she does catch killers. Instead, Andi’s on the hunt again. The hotel is on lockdown. Secrets are being unearthed. And no one is above Andi’s suspicions. But which secrets are worth killing for? Andi’s forced to find the answers fast…before someone else dies.

Review:

This was one of those fun mysteries that really kept me guessing right up until the very end. You get two POVs, Andi an FBI agent who is attending events with an old friend of hers and Carrie, the bride to be. I loved Andi as a character and thought she was so interesting and layered, I could easily see her carrying a series because there was so much about her to like. The author used some dark humor throughout which I always like and things were pretty fast paced with me guessing and second guessing my opinion every chapter. Lots of suspects to choose from with plenty of secrets to uncover and when all was revealed I was satisfied.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: The Resort by Sara Ochs

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Release date: February 6, 2024

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Welcome to paradise. We hope you survive your stay…

There are three rules to survive a dive at the famous Koh Sang Resort

1 – Breathe normally if something goes wrong.

Scuba diving instructor Cass leads her students out for their first dive off the beautiful coast of Koh Sang, Thailand’s world-famous party island. It’s supposed to be a life-changing experience, but things quickly spiral out of control…

2 – Always dive with someone you trust.

By the time she’s back on the shore, Lucy, one of her students, is dead, another critically injured, and she knows the new and idyllic life she has built herself is about to be smashed to pieces on the rocks.

3 – Don’t panic if your oxygen is running out.

Because someone has discovered Cass’s dark secret, and on an island as remote as this, there aren’t many places to hide. There is a killer waiting, and whoever it is will stop at nothing until Cass’s life is ruined and justice is finally served.

Review:

This told via two perspectives, Cass who has made a permanent home on the island and Brooke, a travel influencer on vacation. Right away you realize that not only do Brooke and Cass both have some sort of secrets in their pasts, half of the residents on the island do as well. Cass has a group of friends turned family who all seemed to flee to the island to escape something in their pasts as well. So there’s plenty of secrets and skeletons in closets and I was so confident I knew how things would play out and I was wrong. I loved the setting of this beautiful island hiding deadly secrets that gave everything an unsettling feeling. It was a constant guessing game for me and the final twist was a really good shock. I’m definitely impressed this was a debut, if you like a slow burn that actually pays off in the end try this!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: Nowhere Like Home by Sara Shepard

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Release date: February 20, 2024

Publisher: Dutton

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

When Lenna gets a call from her old friend Rhiannon, she is startled; Rhiannon disappeared years ago without a trace. But Lenna is even more startled to learn that Rhiannon has a son and that she lives off the grid with a group of women in a community called Halcyon. Rhiannon invites Lenna, a new mother herself, to join them. Why suffer the sleepless nights by yourself? It takes a village, after all.

Lenna decides to go and hopefully repair her relationship with Rhiannon, but as she drives into the desert and her cell service gets weaker, she becomes suspicious. Who are these women and why did Rhiannon invite her here? And that is before she learns about the community’s rules (no outside phone calls, no questions about people’s pasts) and the padlock on the gate that leads out to the main road. But Lenna has other concerns, secrets from her past she is terrified will come out. When a newcomer arrives in the community, Lenna’s worst fears are confirmed—she was brought here for a reason.

Nowhere Like Home tackles themes of complicated friendships and trauma but all with Sara Shepard’s expert twists that you don’t see coming.

Review:

I initially grabbed this one because of the setup, I loved the idea of a mommune and hadn’t read a book with that exact premise before. I also loved the PLL series so that may have influenced me too, but the authors adult novels have been hit or miss for me and those fell somewhere in the middle. Like I said, a great setup and if you like a slow burn that has a slight literary feel that’s exactly what this one is. I don’t have as much patience with thrillers as I used to, I need something that a bit faster and more gripping but I never contemplated dnfing so there’s something to be said about that. I just feel like things got a little drawn out and convoluted at times and while the ending was more exciting, it was also a bit silly and far fetched so I’m not sure it was totally worth it. Fans of slow burns about toxic friendships and who like stories with cult like vibes may enjoy this one.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: Keep Your Friends Close by Leah Konen

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Release date: February 20, 2024

Publisher: Putnam

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

With friends like these, who needs enemies?

Isolated and embroiled in a custody battle, Mary needs a friend more than ever. When she meets the charming and enigmatic Willa at a Brooklyn playground, the women’s connection feels fated. Finally, she has someone on her side. During a margarita-fueled moms’ night out, though, Mary shares her darkest secret about her ex, George, and Willa simply disappears. No calls, no texts, nothing. 

Two months later, Mary’s divorce is almost finalized, and she’s trying to build a new life for her son in upstate New York. On her first day in town, she runs into Willa…only Willa’s name is Annie now, and she’s got an entirely new family in tow. When George turns up dead and Mary becomes the prime suspect, she has no choice but to turn to her only friend in Willa.

As coincidences—and evidence—pile up, Mary begins to wonder whether Willa had something to do with George’s death. Is the other woman a friend or a foe, a confidante or just a con? Mary must uncover the truth before she loses everything.

Review:

I’ve read and enjoyed all of the authors books, she writes fast paced and engaging thrillers with unique edges and this was my favorite by her so far. I was totally addicted to it, the questions just kept piling up and I could not turn the pages fast enough. The first half was gripping enough and then the second half had so many great twists, (big and small) that I basically flew through it in one sitting. I HAD to know what was really happening and when all was revealed in the end I was pretty damn satisfied. Try this when you want an easy, pacey and really fun domestic thriller.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: The Friendship Club by Robyn Carr

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Release date: January 23, 2024

Publisher: MIRA

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

Four women come together at a tumultuous time in their lives, forging an unbreakable bond that will leave them all forever changed.

Celebrity cooking show host Marni McGuire has seen it all. She’s been married—twice—and widowed and divorced. Now in her midfifties, she’s single. Happily so. She just needs to convince her pregnant daughter, Bella, of this fact. And maybe convince herself, too. Especially after Marni’s efforts to humor her determined daughter result in a series of disastrous dates that somehow prompt Marni to wonder if maybe the right man for her is still out there after all. 

Similarly single, Marni’s best friend and colleague is confident she’s content without a man, but both older women soon find themselves leading by example as the young intern on their show appears caught in a toxic relationship—and Bella reveals her own marriage maybe isn’t built to withstand the stresses of the baby on the way.

Suddenly, all four women find themselves at a crossroads, each navigating the challenges of dating, marriage, loneliness and love. Thankfully, they have each other to lean on. The realities of modern love are far from easy, but there’s no better group to have in your corner than friends who will lift you up, no matter what, and hold fast in the face of any storm.

Review:

I never miss a chance to read a Robyn Carr book, her style is one of my absolute favorites and I’m always drawn into the stories she creates in an effortless way. I loved that this centered on a group of women during all stages of life. You have Marni, a fifty something celebrity chef who may finally be ready to renter the dating world, then there is her daughter, Bella a smart and ambitious woman pregnant with her first child, then there’s also Ellen, Marni’s coworker who leads a solitary life but may also be ready for love again and finally Sophia, their young intern who finds herself in a bad relationship. The support these women offered each other was so beautiful and I adored all their friendships. While it may seem like they’re an unlikely bunch, they truly brought out the best in each other. With four storylines there’s never a dull moment which made this such a fast read for me. I was caught up in their lives and rooting for them all every step of the way. If you like books about strong female friendships this was really wonderful.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: The Guest by B. A. Paris

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Release date: February 20, 2024

Publisher: St. Martins

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Some secrets never leave.

Iris and Gabriel seem to have it all: a beautiful home in the British countryside, a daughter happily working in Greece, and good friends Laure and Pierre from Paris, who they often vacation with. But when a young man has a tragic accident in a nearby quarry, Gabriel is the one to find him and hear his final words, leaving Gabriel with a guilty burden.

As Iris tries to help ease her husband’s trauma, they acquire an unexpected house guest. Laure has seemingly moved in after her husband’s revelation that he has had a child with another woman. Iris and Gabriel insist Laure stay as long as she needs. But Laure keeps wearing Iris’s clothes, following her every move, and asking her about the recent death of the young man.

Their only respite from the increasingly tense atmosphere in their own home comes from a couple new to town and expecting their first child. But with them comes their gardener, who has a checkered past.

With fractured relationships and secrets piling up around them, can Iris and Gabriel’s marriage survive?

Review:

My ratings for this authors books are all over the place and this one falls somewhere right in the middle for me. She has a knack for writing short and fairly fast paced mysteries that hold my attention and while the pacing here had some issues, I was mostly invested. The central mystery was solid for me but things lost me a bit dealing with the characters everyday minutiae of their lives, I got a little bogged down with the details and didn’t feel like they were wholly necessary. But like I said, the main mystery was good and the twists were fun so definitely some enjoyable moments. If you like fluffy popcorn style thrillers this may be for you.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead by Jenny Hollander

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Release date: February 6, 2024

Publisher: Minotaur

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

What if everything you know about the worst night of your life turns out not to be true?

Nine years ago, with the world’s eyes on her, Charlie Colbert fled. The press and the police called Charlie a “witness” to the nightmarish events at her elite graduate school on Christmas Eve—events known to the public as “Scarlet Christmas”—though Charlie knows she was much more than that. 

Now, Charlie has meticulously rebuilt her life: She’s the editor-in-chief of a major magazine, engaged to the golden child of the publishing industry, and hell-bent on never, ever letting her guard down again. But when a buzzy film made by one of Charlie’s former classmates threatens to shatter everything she’s worked for, Charlie realizes how much she’s changed in nine years. Now, she’s not going to let anything—not even the people she once loved most—get in her way.

Review:

I absolutely adore when I read a great debut but I’m always a little more impressed when said debut is a mystery/thriller. There’s something so impressive to me about an author having the ability to craft not only a gripping story but one that is well executed and has the right amount of reveals and turns to keep the pacing perfect. Bonus points for twists that make sense and strong writing, all of which I found in this one!

While I personally found the pacing to be appropriate for a thriller, there are arguments to be made that this could qualify as a slow burn. Details about the horrific night that changed Charlie’s life are revealed very slowly but I thought the author did a great job of spoon feeding enough information to keep me pretty satisfied. The ending was a tiny bit underwhelming but was still a very worthwhile read for me and I will definitely be excited to see what this new author does next.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.