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Release date: July 23, 2019

Publisher: Scribner

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: July 23, 2019

Publisher: St. Martin’s

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

There is a stranger outside Caroline’s house.

Her spectacular new beach house, built for hosting expensive parties and vacationing with the family she thought she’d have. But her husband is lying to her and everything in her life is upside down, so when the stranger, Aiden, shows up as a bartender at the same party where Caroline and her husband have a very public fight, it doesn’t seem like anything out of the ordinary.

As her marriage collapses around her and the lavish lifestyle she’s built for herself starts to crumble, Caroline turns to Aiden for comfort…and revenge. After a brief and desperate fling that means nothing to Caroline and everything to him, Aiden’s obsession with Caroline, her family, and her house grows more and more disturbing. And when Caroline’s husband goes missing, her life descends into a nightmare that leaves her accused of her own husband’s murder. 

Review:

This. Book. Was. Wild! If you’re looking for a fun, beachy thriller to lose yourself in this summer, this would be ideal as long as a slightly over the top plot doesn’t bother you that is! But from a purely read for entertainment standpoint this fits the bill as it’s fun and fast paced.

This is told from both Caroline and Aiden’s point of view, and boy do they have different viewpoints. At first I struggled to decide who I thought was telling the truth, they both seemed unreliable but soon enough I saw where things were going and I was right. But for once that didn’t really annoy me, I had more of an issue with the direction the story headed, pretty ridiculous and over the top, but also sorta fun?! I definitely kept reading and was engaged so despite my minor issues I did enjoy it. If you’re a fan of the author you’ll like this I think, it was something different from her but also had her signature strong writing style.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: July 23, 2019

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Blurb:

Review:

I haven’t heard much about this book before I picked it up so I wasn’t sure what to expect at all, but I’m all about a debut author and the bold, bright cover kept calling my name from my nightstand! I’m so glad I did grab it because it was something totally different from the kind of books I’ve been reading lately and I ended up enjoying it.

This will most definitely get compared to Eleanor Oliphant in every single review, but honestly, it’s a dead on comparison, so what can you do? I actually liked this more that EO anyway, there was something both unique and distinct about the authors writing style that just worked really well for me and Germaine has such a strong, unique and quirky voice that I couldn’t helped but be charmed by her. She’s definitely eccentric but the woman is so confident in her beliefs that she never wavers and I’m all about a strong female protagonist. The supporting cast also consists of some unusual, albeit lovable characters so this really had it all in terms of characterization for me.

If you like dry humor an endearing cast of characters, and stories full of heart give this a try. It was a quick read as well and just really unique, sure to make you smile!

The Helpline in three words: Quirky, Endearing and Hopeful

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: July 23, 2019

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Review:

If you’re in the mood for a fun thriller this summer then you MUST add this one to your TBR, it’s light enough to read poolside but has enough of a dark edge to keep you engrossed and the structure is original and executed incredibly well. The dynamic duo of Lisa and Liz has never let me down and this may well be my favorite book from them yet.

I’m going to be keeping this pretty brief because the less you know, the more you’ll enjoy this one. It starts out as one linear story and then quickly mergers into two, each follows Lila but shows how her different choices effect her life. You guys, it was not only totally compulsive but it also makes you think about the impact seemingly inane decisions can have in your own life, I could not put it down. I got totally blindsided by the ending of both sides and all I can say it bravo ladies! Totally recommend by me, this ambitious structure could’ve easily been a hot mess but these two hit it out of the park.

The Two Lila Bennett’s in three words: Compulsive, Unexpected and Dynamic

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the authors for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: July 23, 2019

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Blurb:

Sink or swim
Too bad her kids didn’t get the memo. 

Between the troublesome family secrets, old sibling rivalries, and her two teenage grandkids, Annette’s birthday vacation is looking more and more like the perfect storm. Adrift together on the open seas, the Feldmans will each face the truths they’ve been ignoring–and learn that the people they once thought most likely to sink them are actually the ones who help them stay afloat.

Review:

If you enjoy books about oddly endearing dysfunctional families this is the book for you! This was surprisingly poignant look at what happens when on quirky family finally spends more than one meal together and the results were highly entertaining and profoundly funny.

This is told via multiple perspectives, you hear from almost everyone in the Feldman crew and even a member of staff on the cruise. I love a good ensemble cast, and every single one of these people had some pretty juicy secrets. If was kind of one of those situations where you think, do ANY of these people talk to each other? But it was also really apparent that each had valid reasons for keeping said secrets to themselves. I really enjoyed every single one of the characters, they all brought something unique to the table and though I don’t think I would want any of them as members of my own family, I was pretty invested in both their individual storylines as well as their dynamics as a group.The author is a talented writer, she has a sharp and witty insight into family that really shines through in the storyline and I breezed through this one, mainly do to her thoughtful and funny observations. Recommended as a fun summer read, I definitely had fun with this one and can easily see it being popular, but if you’re planning a cruise yourself you may want to wait to read it until after your trip…

The Floating Feldman’s in three words: Sardonic, Enjoyable and Dysfunctional

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: July 9, 2019

Publisher: MIRA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

After four months of unemployment, former book editor Clara Montgomery is still stuck sleeping on her little brother’s ugly couch in Queens. Determined to keep her minuscule savings account intact, she takes a job clearing out abandoned storage units, but is in no way prepared for stumbling upon dead snakes or trying to identify exactly where the perpetual stench of beets is emanating from.

When Clara comes across a unit that was once owned by an escort service, she finds the brothel “résumé” of a younger Caspian Tiddleswich… an astonishingly famous British actor. Her best friend thinks she should sell the gossip to a tabloid to fund her way off the couch from hell, but Clara instead manages to track down Caspian’s contact info, intending to reassure him that her lips are sealed.

Unfortunately, Caspian misinterprets Clara’s attempt at altruism and shows up on her doorstep, accusing her of blackmail. When the paparazzi capture a photo of them together, Caspian’s PR team sees an opportunity to promote his latest film—and if Clara wants to atone for her “crimes,” she’ll have to play along. Pretending to be Caspian’s girlfriend seems like it will be a tolerable, if somewhat daunting, penance… until their fake romance becomes something more than either of them expected.

Review:

Almost two years ago I fell in love with theauthors debut, The Awkward Path to Getting Lucky and I’ve been anxiously awaiting another book from her ever since. Her brand of writing was perfect for me, witty, smart and full of heart and I’m so happy to say that I loved this book just as much as I had hoped!

Heacock has a real knack for writing about friendship in a true and genuine manner, her dialogue between best friends Clara and Cici was not only hilarious, it felt like I was eavesdropping on real BFFs. I loved both of them and just found them to be so authentic and realistic, and then you have this whole hot and cold romance brewing between Clara and Caspian that made my head spin in the best possible way. These two had obvious chemistry from the moment they meet but much of the book sees them extremely angry and irritated with each other, but who knew angsty and angry chemistry could be so hot?! There were fireworks for sure. 💥 💥💥

Highly recommended for a super fun and entertaining rom com read, I laughed quite a bit and just had the best time with these characters, I’m a firm fan of the author and cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

Crashing the A List in three words: Hilarious, Entertaining and Sparkling

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: July 16, 2019

Publisher: Ballantine

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

In her first weeks at Hawthorne College, Malin is swept up into a tight-knit circle that will stick together through all four years. There’s Gemma, an insecure theater major from London; John, a tall, handsome, and wealthy New Englander; Max, John’s cousin and a shy pre-med major; Khaled, a wise-cracking prince from Abu Dhabi; and Ruby, a beautiful art history major. But Malin isn’t quite like the rest of her friends. She’s an expert at hiding her troubling past. She acts as if she is concerned with the preoccupations of those around her – boys, partying – all while using her extraordinary insight to detect their deepest vulnerabilities and weaknesses.

By Senior Day, on the cusp of graduation, Malin’s secrets – and those of her friends – are revealed. While she scrambles to maintain her artfully curated image, her missteps set in motion a devastating chain of events that ends in a murder. And as their fragile relationships hang in the balance and close alliances start shifting, Malin will test the limits of what she’s capable of to stop the truth from coming out.

Review:

I love a mysterious book that follows a group of tight knit friends, and for bonus points this was set in a New England college town, which is always a plus for me! While I did think this would be a bit more thrillerish than it was I was still really into the mystery at play here and overall enjoyed this one.

This is told solely from Malin’s viewpoint but it does have a few timelines. First is during her and her friends senior year, next is their freshman year when they all meet and lastly is in the late nineties when she was a child. This wasn’t a page turner in the typical way as it was a character driven story with no big shocks, however it was still pretty dang engrossing even without a bunch of crazy twists and turns and I liked that it didn’t rely only on shock value to keep me engaged.

The best way I can describe this one without ruining anything is to say that it’s a slow and deliberate unraveling of a group of very close friends that is very well written and surprisingly pacey for such a slow burn. Definitely recommended by me if you like a sophisticated feeling mystery!

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: July 2, 2019

Publisher: Putnam

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

FBI Agent Nell Flynn hasn’t been home in ten years. Nell and her father, Homicide Detective Martin Flynn, have never had much of a relationship. And Suffolk County will always be awash in memories of her mother, Marisol, who was brutally murdered when Nell was just seven.

When Martin Flynn dies in a motorcycle accident, Nell returns to the house she grew up in so that she can spread her father’s ashes and close his estate. At the behest of her father’s partner, Detective Lee Davis, Nell becomes involved in an investigation into the murders of two young women in Suffolk County. The further Nell digs, the more likely it seems to her that her father should be the prime suspect–and that his friends on the police force are covering his tracks. Plagued by doubts about her mother’s murder–and her own role in exonerating her father in that case–Nell can’t help but ask questions about who killed Ria Ruiz and Adriana Marques and why. But she may not like the answers she finds–not just about those she loves, but about herself. 

Review:

We’re about to head off to Legoland but I wanted to jump on really fast and tell you guys how much I enjoyed Alger’s latest. This was a fast paced and exciting read and I loved that it was told via one POV, it made for a really nice change. Nell was exactly the kind of strong and determined lead character that I live for and the setting was seriously detailed and truly brought to life. Throw in a current mystery as well as some questions about Nell’s mothers death from years ago and this had all the ingredients for the perfect, binge worthy summer thriller! Recommended as a vacation read, I read this over mine and it was exactly what I was in the mood for.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: July 1, 2019

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Stay calm, keep smiling, and watch your step. In this marriage of secrets and lies, nothing is what it seems.

For days, all of Denver, Colorado, has worried over the fate of a missing child, little Tanner Holcomb. Then, a miracle: handsome, athletic Johnny Bradley finds him, frightened but unharmed, on a hiking trail miles from his wealthy family’s mountain home.

In a heartbeat, his rescuer goes from financially strapped fitness trainer to celebrated hero. The heat of the spotlight may prove too much for Johnny’s picture-perfect family, however. His wife, Veronica, despises the pressure of the sudden fame, afraid that secrets and bitter resentments of her marriage may come to light. And she’s willing to do anything to keep them hidden.

But when a shocking revelation exposes an even darker side to Tanner’s disappearance, Veronica realizes that nothing in her life can be trusted. And everything should be feared. 

Review:

Last year one of my favorite and most memorable reads was Jane Doe so of course False Step was high up on my list of most anticipated reads for this year. I loved how original and unique that one was and I adored Jane as a character even though I probably shouldn’t have loved a sociopath as much as I did. I’m so sad to say that this one just didn’t work for me at all.

While initially I was very interested to see where this one was going by about a quarter of the way in I had worked out exactly what was going to happen. I also hated every single character besides the young daughter, Sydney. Veronica was endlessly annoying to me and the whole cast was hypocritical and so exhausting. I’m not gonna sit here and endlessly bash the book because I still really enjoy Stone as an author and will gladly be reading Problem Child as I’m a fan of her writing style. This was just predictable and cliches and just not the right book for me. If you haven’t read JD though I highly recommend that one and if you’re not a seasoned thriller reader this one may work better for you than it did for me.

Overall rating: 2/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.