Tag: #bookreview

Review: Only if You’re Lucky by Stacy Willingham

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Release date: January 16, 2024

Publisher: Minotaur

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Lucy Sharpe is larger than life. Magnetic, addictive. Bold and dangerous. Especially for Margot, who meets Lucy at the end of their freshman year at a liberal arts college in South Carolina. Margot is the shy one, the careful one, always the sidekick and never the center of attention. But when Lucy singles her out at the end of the year, a year Margot spent studying and playing it safe, and asks her to room together, something in Margot can’t say no—something daring, or starved, or maybe even envious.

And so Margot finds herself living in an off-campus house with three other girls, Lucy, the ringleader; Sloane, the sarcastic one; and Nicole, the nice one, the three of them opposites but also deeply intertwined. It’s a year that finds Margot finally coming out of the shell she’s been in since the end of high school, when her best friend Eliza died three weeks after graduation. Margot and Lucy have become the closest of friends, but by the middle of their sophomore year, one of the fraternity boys from the house next door has been brutally murdered… and Lucy Sharpe is missing without a trace.

A tantalizing thriller about the nature of friendship and belonging, about loyalty, envy, and betrayal—another gripping novel from an author quickly becoming the gold standard in psychological suspense.

Review:

If a thriller explores toxic female friendships I’m always gonna read it so that’s all I needed to know before I started this one. I also have a good track record going with the author, I enjoyed her two previous books, but I will say her previous ones were slightly better for me than this one. BUT! This is still worth a read in my opinion because a good thriller is getting harder and harder to come by anymore. Anyway, the college setting was strong for me here as well as the aforementioned female friend group with young women who were well drawn and characterized by the author. There are some really good twists too that I didn’t totally see coming, so overall this was another solid read from a trusted author.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis

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Release date: January 16, 2024

Publisher: Avon

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Luna Wright is a lot of things, but sweet and trusting aren’t on the list. However, she’s a sucker for the underdog and a hard-luck story. Adopted at birth, with scant knowledge of her biological family, she’s created her own inner circle, a motley crew which includes her bestie Willow, to help her run the struggling but charming Apple Ridge Farm. 

With a farm-to-table café as well as a menagerie of rescued animals (complete with a baby goat who keeps escaping to the pantry to eat the secret stash of decidedly not organic potato chips), it’s the best home she’s ever known. But when Silas, the owner who they secretly call The Grinch, passes away, Luna discovers the farm is now under the control of both his investment manager, the enigmatic Jameson Hayes….and her. And that Silas had many, many secrets. 

Now Luna’s carefully controlled corner of the world is threatened and she—along with some of her friends—has to dig deep to find true strength and the real meaning of love and family.

Review:

Every time I start a new book by Jill Shalvis I’m always pleasantly surprised by how much I love it from page one. It’s like I know from the start that I’m reading a special book, and one that will be five shiny stars and it’s such a great feeling! This is the fifth book in her Sunrise Cove series but each reads separately, the only thing they have in common is the location and each installment focuses on a brand new set of characters. All of that to say, you can jump in right here or read them out of order and it doesn’t matter one bit but they are all totally delightful and come highly recommended by me.

The Bright Spot follows Luna and Jameson and a whole group of misfits who make up the community Luna has created at Apple Ridge Farm. Found family is one of my favorite tropes and I don’t know if I’ve ever read a better example of it than in this book. All of the secondary characters were so freaking good and added so much to the story. Mainly humor, I swear the authors books are always funny but this one had some extra humor that I loved. Luna and Jameson both have several issues they’re trying to work through but trust issues are high on the list and seeing them navigate this together was so sweet. I adored their relationship, their chemistry was so hot but they were also tender and sweet and their banter was excellent as well. There was an emotional depth to the story as well as plenty of sexy romance, family drama and sparkling wit. If you want a book that feels like a warm and cozy hug this is it, I absolutely loved it!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Review: You’ll Never Know I’m Here by Kiersten Modglin

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Goodreads

Release date: December 8, 2023

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

They tell the world what mysteries to read.
Soon, they’ll be caught up in one of their own.

When six book influencers take a weekend getaway to connect with their fellow creators, it’s meant to be a chance to relax, collaborate, and discuss all of the books they love.

But from the start, something’s clearly amiss. From the host’s mysterious absence and an unexpected guest to an odd occurrence in town and the strange and worrisome behavior of the neighbors, what starts out as an innocent and lively vacation quickly becomes a weekend filled with terror. And when one of the group members believes they see something horrifying at the house next door, their carefully laid plans begin to unravel.

Drawn into a mystery that runs far deeper and is more sinister than they could’ve imagined—and surrounded by those who refute their story—the group struggles to unearth the truth about the house and the couple next door before it’s too late.

As new questions and shocking revelations surface, the group must decide if they can trust each other—not only with their safety in the house, but with their lives entirely.

Readers’ worst nightmares come to life in this terrifying new thriller that tests the limits of friendship, explores the power of social media influence, digs into the depths of trust, and examines the desperate and dangerous lengths of obsession from million-copy bestselling author, Kiersten Modglin.

Review:

I’ve read quite a few books about influencers in general but this one was basically made for me, it’s about a group of book influencers who spent their free time recommending mysteries and thrillers, umm hello?! So a super cool concept that I was immediately into coupled with a great atmosphere that should’ve been cute and picturesque but was instead unsettling and creepy. It’s a page turner that read so fast I truly had a hard time convincing myself to put it down when I needed to sleep, there’s something about the authors style that begs you to read just a few more pages. And then repeat haha. I definitely didn’t see where this was headed at all and one of the main reveals got me really good. Overall another fast paced and twisty thrill ride from the author.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Review: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

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Release date: January 4, 2024

Publisher: Pamela Dorman

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Evie Porter has everything a nice, Southern girl could want: a perfect, doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence and a garden, a fancy group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist.

The identity comes to Evie Porter. Once she’s given a name and location by her mysterious boss Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the target: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job.

Evie isn’t privy to Mr. Smith’s real identity, but she knows this job will be different. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she’s starting to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie can’t make any mistakes–especially after what happened last time.

Because the one thing she’s worked her entire life to keep clean, the one identity she could always go back to—her real identity—just walked right into this town. Evie Porter must stay one step ahead of her past while making sure there’s still a future in front of her. The stakes couldn’t be higher–but then, Evie has always liked a challenge…

Review:

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a thriller than I enjoyed as much as this one, damn this was so good. I was hooked instantly and then the really early twist really had me captivated and my attention never wavered the entire time. I didn’t reread the synopsis before I started and I think that amped up my enjoyment even more, something about not knowing at all what to expect was so fun and just kept me super engaged. So the less you know the better here but if you like con stories, lots of well executed twists and turns and a smart mystery that will leave you guessing throughout this was really great!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: Perfect Little Lives by Amber and Danielle Brown

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Release date: December 5, 2023

Publisher: Graydon House

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

ON ASHER LANE, SOME SECRETS ARE WORTH KILLING FOR…

Simone’s mother was murdered when she was thirteen. When her father was convicted, everything changed. Overnight, Simone went from living in a wealthy white neighborhood to scraping by.

Ten years later, Simone has given up on her dreams and lives a quiet life, writing book reviews and getting serious with her boyfriend. But with a true crime documentarian hounding her for a scoop and a surprise encounter with her childhood next-door neighbor, Hunter, the past seems set on haunting her. And after Hunter reveals that his father and her mother had a years-long affair, Simone is determined to find out who really killed her mother.

Simone is convinced that all evidence points to Hunter’s father, a renowned judge who had everything to lose if his affair—and his nascent love child—came to light. Playing the game from all sides, Simone enlists Hunter’s help in her investigation into his family—whether he realizes it or not. But is she so desperate for closure that she’ll risk imploding her carefully rebuilt life?

Review:

This one was a little all over the place for me, I think it needed to pick a lane and stick with it instead of toeing the line. At times it felt like I was reading a romance book with toxic drama and then others it felt like I was reading a good case suspense novel. (Super light on the suspense) The failure to distinguish between what it was trying to do lost me unfortunately, but despite debating putting it down I did finish it. That always makes me think there’s something about the authors writing that kept me captivated so gotta give credit there. The suspense aspect fell flat for me as well as I found the twist to be predictable and easy to see coming. I did like the way the author discussed race in relation to criminal cases and found their observations and commentary to be sharp but overall this just wasn’t for me.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: It All Comes Back to You by Melissa Wiesner

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Goodreads

Release date: August 22, 2023

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance

Synopsis:

Anna works two jobs to get herself through college and never, ever talks about her family. It’s easier to keep her distance from everyone until she can finally leave her old life behind. That is, until chance throws her together with Gabe …

Gabe is top of the class, in a fancy fraternity, and has a big, perfect, warm-hearted family. He is everything Anna is not. Their connection is undeniable. His silver-blue eyes pierce right through her, and he makes her laugh in ways she never thought possible. But Anna would do anything to stop Gabe from discovering her darkest secret, and the real reason she goes home every night to a cold, silent apartment…

When Gabe and his family get close to the truth, Anna runs, vowing to never see them again. But forever is a long time…

Years later. Tragedy brings Anna back to the town she grew up in—a place she escaped a decade ago. When Gabe wraps his strong arms around her, it’s like finally finding home.

But when the truth comes out after all these years, will both their worlds come crashing down? Gabe is the one person Anna trusts but what if he has secrets, too? And how much pain can two hearts endure, before they are torn apart forever?

It All Comes Back to You will make you laugh, cry with both joy and pain, and hold your loved ones tight.

Review:

The author is new to me so I wasn’t really sure what to expect here but it definitely exceeded any expectations I had because this was really good! From the moment I started I was immediately drawn into the story of Anna and Gabe, they’re the kind of characters that you form an instant connection with and I was very invested in their story. It follows the two of them over a long period of time and the depth and growth of their characters was excellent. While I loved Gabe it was Anna who really stole my heart, she had such a sad backstory but she was such a resilient and strong woman that I couldn’t help but root for her so hard. There are some heavy issues explored here but it was also very heartwarming and uplifting as well. I adored my time with these characters and so appreciated this beautiful story of love, loss, hope and friendship.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Review: The Playgroup by Jami Worthington

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Release date: September 21, 2023

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

In California’s Silicon Valley, even a children’s playgroup can be a place for power-brokering, innovation, and cut-throat competition. In Oak Valley, a wealthy suburb of Silicon Valley, Alex Drake runs “the” playgroup in town. Even in a place where its seems like everyone has a multi-million dollar bank account or has a company that is about to go public, Alex appears to have it a delightful daughter, a handsome, adoring husband, model-like beauty, and the kind of obscene wealth that keeps her in the latest fashion, driving the newest car (electric, obviously!), and hosting playgroups where the wine flows and so does the gossip. When Alex invites new to the neighborhood Cleo Baird to join her tight-knit playgroup, Cleo can’t believe her luck and knows she has just the “in” she’s been hoping for. But it isn’t just luck. As the women grow closer and Alex shares more secrets, she doesn’t realize Cleo is keeping secrets of her own. It’s no coincidence that Cleo and her daughter moved to Oak Valley. Cleo came to town with a specific goal in to destroy Alex’s enviable and seemingly perfect life. Fans of Tarryn Fisher, Jeneva Rose, and Frieda McFadden will love this book about friendships, betrayal, and how nothing, and no one, are ever exactly as they seem.

Review:

I was easily caught up in the lives of a group of wealthy women who can only be described as frenemies and the comparison to authors like Freida McFadden and Tarryn Fisher are spot on. I love a revenge plot and this was a delicious slow burn unraveling that came together in the end in a satisfying manner. The twists were aplenty and the author had a sly way of revealing a game changing piece of information in the most subtle way. The characters range from totally unlikable to bearable but I get a kick out of loving to hate fictional people. If you enjoy rich women and their devious behavior, toxic friendships and a whole lot of soapy fun this was an entertaining ride!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Review: After Dark by Minka Kent

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Release date: November 14, 2023

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

She’s a pariah with a killer past. Her bid to escape it is nothing short of terrifying in a heart-pounding novel of suspense by Washington Post and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Minka Kent.

Afton Teachout has been an outcast in her small town for twenty years—ever since she was accused of murdering her mother’s lover in a blackout fit of rage. That is, if one believes the malicious lies.

Living with her grandmother, working a hotel night shift, and relying on pills to get a day’s sleep, Afton is due a little luck. It comes in the form of an unexpected financial windfall. With her newfound wealth, Afton sets a secret plan in motion to help her only friend, Sydney, flee a toxic husband. But the best intentions soon spin out of control.

Afton is getting unsettling calls from a restricted number, and someone has been lingering outside her home. As Sydney’s troubled marriage comes into focus, so does Afton’s past. Her second chance—for herself and for Sydney—isn’t what she dreamed of at all. In fact, it’s becoming a nightmare.

Review:

I really loved the premise here and the prologue dives into the day that changed Afton’s life forever. It was chilling and puzzling because it lays the groundwork for a very solid mystery but it also leaves so many questions unanswered. This flips back and forth between Afton and Syndey each chapter and it also has a few chapters from the past that slowly provides insight into both women’s lives. The pacing here was fast and furious and I truly couldn’t put this down, I read it all in a day because I was desperate to know what was really going on. I found myself really sympathetic towards Afton but it was weird because I was never sure if she was trustworthy either. I liked that though because it kept me on my toes and is a main part of the reason why I finished so quickly. I don’t want to say much more but if you like friendship dramas, super fast paced and addictive stories and tricky plots try this.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: Do Not Open by Kiersten Modglin

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Release date: October 31, 2023

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

On the day author Mari Montgomery receives the email, she has little left to live for.

The message—simple yet utterly life-changing—offers a glimmer of hope to her dismal existence. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, and if she takes it, it could change everything.

Mari’s immediate sense of unease is eclipsed only by her curiosity—elicited from the supposed fan on the other end of the email. Unsatisfied despite doing her due diligence, and with no way to discern the legitimacy of the sender, Mari takes a leap of faith and replies.

What harm could come from one innocent message?

Soon, as she comes face to face with her ‘number one fan,’ it’s all too clear things are not what they first appeared. Now trapped by a villain far more sinister than she could’ve crafted herself, the fate awaiting her is inspired by the darkest depths of the monsters in her own novels. 

In order to escape and survive, Mari must use the strength of the heroines she’s spent years writing about. But this villain has spent years inside her worlds, too. 

How will she defeat an evil who has learned from the best?

For fans of Misery, YOU, and Behind Closed Doors, million-copy bestselling author Kiersten Modglin brings us a haunting tale of obsession and survival in the form of a writer’s worst nightmare come to life.

Review:

The authors books are always one sitting, binge worthy reads for me but this one was on a whole new level of addictive for me. Everything about this was heightened, it was more intense, it was creepier, it was even faster paced than usual and it was everything I want in a thriller and more. Things went super dark and disturbing and at this time of year that’s exactly what I crave. Everything about this felt slightly unhinged and I mean that as a compliment. I never really knew what would happen next so it definitely kept me on my toes and made for such a suspenseful reading experience. The combination of emotional upheaval for Mari and a series of unexpected twists made this one such a solid read for me, if you like dark thrillers that give you the creeps this was so good!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the author for my copy.

Review: Christmas at the Shelter Inn by RaeAnne Thayne

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Release date: October 10, 2023

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

Come home to Shelter Springs this Christmas, where hearts are warm and hopes are bright…

Growing up at the Shelter Inn hotel, Natalie Shepherd envied guests who could come and go as they pleased. So when it was time to finally leave for college and put the lush green mountains around Shelter Springs—along with the cloud of loss that seemed to follow her family—behind her, she swore she’d never come back. But now her sister McKenna needs a favor. On pregnancy bed rest at doctor’s orders, McKenna needs a helping hand with her two young daughters and someone to take over the inn during the hectic holiday season, and Nat can’t refuse. And just when things can’t get worse, she runs into her late brother’s best friend, Griffin Taylor…

Griff has mixed feelings about Natalie’s return. She’s just as beautiful and full of life as he remembered, but there’s a secret he’s carried for years about her brother—and the guilt is eating away at him. Still, Christmas in this small town is filled with treasured traditions and new adventures that hold the promise of something sweet and lasting. From matchmaking seniors to rambunctious nieces, it seems everyone is hoping Nat and Griff will put loss behind them and find a happy new beginning…

Review:

This was such an adorable read, from the minute I started it I was transported to Shelter Springs and I kind of never wanted to leave. Natalie is home to help her sister with her kids while she’s on bedrest and while she loves her family, she’s in town begrudgingly. Griffin was her brother’s best friend and when he tragically passed away they didn’t stay in touch. I enjoyed that while this was wholesome and sweet both Natalie and Griffin had some darkness in their pasts they had to overcome before they could find their way to each other. The senior residents of the Shelter Inn were a crack up and I loved the little community they forged together. Add inn Hazel and Nora, Natalie’s super cute nieces and this was beyond cozy and fun. If you want a feel good holiday read this is such a good choice.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.