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Release date: June 6, 2017

Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

In this stunning and provocative domestic drama about a sweet sixteen birthday party that goes horribly awry, a wealthy family in San Francisco finds themselves entangled in a legal battle, their darkest secrets revealed, and their friends turned to enemies.

One invitation. A lifetime of regrets.

Sweet sixteen. It’s an exciting coming of age, a milestone, and a rite of passage. Jeff and Kim Sanders plan on throwing a party for their daughter, Hannah—a sweet girl with good grades and nice friends. Rather than an extravagant, indulgent affair, they invite four girls over for pizza, cake, movies, and a sleepover. What could possibly go wrong?

But things do go wrong, horrifically so. After a tragic accident occurs, Jeff and Kim’s picture perfect life in a wealthy San Francisco suburb suddenly begins to unravel. A lawsuit is filed that irrevocably changes their relationship, reveals dark secrets in the Sanders’ marriage, and exposes the truth about their perfect daughter, Hannah.

Harkening to Herman Koch’s The Dinner, Christos Tsiolkas’s The Slap, and Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies, The Party takes us behind the façade of the perfect family, exposing the lies, betrayals, and moral lapses that neighbors don’t see—and the secrets that children and parents keep from themselves and each other. 

Review: 

The Party was a much lighter mystery than I was expecting, I would even hesitate to label it a thriller as it’s lacking a true mystery or intensity that I believe would qualify it as such. It actually reminded me of Truly Madly Guilty in the sense that it was about a shocking event that has huge ramifications for a group of people. You do find out what happens pretty early on, so there wasn’t the annoying wait for the big reveal. I appreciated this as waiting for information that ends up being lackluster is a huge pet peeve of mine. 

This is told from the perspectives of four people; Kim and Jeff who are the parents that threw the infamous party, their daughter Hannah and Lisa the mother of one of Hannah’s friends that attended the party. I’m a fan of this structure and it worked well enough here, but every single one of the characters was very unlikable. Sometimes selfish, insipid characters don’t bother me, but this time it didn’t work out so well for me. I had a hard time feeling sympathetic towards any of them which in turn meant I struggled to form a connection with any of them and left me not really caring what happened to them one way or another. 

I do want to be clear and say that with the right reader,  I think this could be an enjoyable read, unfortunately I just don’t think I was the target audience. I expected more tension and instead it was mostly law suits and high school politics. The ending really missed the mark for me but I don’t want to get into it to much for fear of spoilers, I’ll just say that I had hoped maybe some of the characters would have had more growth and maturity by the end. If you’re looking for a mindless summer read and don’t mind a lack of mystery in a book classified as such, The Party may be for you. 

Overall rating: 2.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

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Release date: June 13, 2017

Publisher: Riverhead Books

Genre: Historical Fiction 

Blurb: 

A heart-breaking, heart-warming historical novel of love and survival inspired by real resistance workers during World War II Austria, and the mysterious love letter that connects generations of Jewish families. For readers of The Nightingale, Lilac Girls, and Sarah’s Key.

Austria, 1938.

Kristoff is a young apprentice to a master Jewish stamp engraver. When his teacher disappears during Kristallnacht, Kristoff is forced to engrave stamps for the Germans, and simultaneously works alongside Elena, his beloved teacher’s fiery daughter, and with the Austrian resistance to send underground messages and forge papers. As he falls for Elena amidst the brutal chaos of war, Kristoff must find a way to save her, and himself. 

Los Angeles, 1989. 

Katie Nelson is going through a divorce and while cleaning out her house and life in the aftermath, she comes across the stamp collection of her father, who recently went into a nursing home. When an appraiser, Benjamin, discovers an unusual World War II-era Austrian stamp placed on an old love letter as he goes through her dad’s collection, Katie and Benjamin are sent on a journey together that will uncover a story of passion and tragedy spanning decades and continents, behind the just fallen Berlin Wall. 

A beautiful, poignant and devastating novel, The Lost Letter shows the lasting power of love. 

Review: 

This beautiful story is told through dual perspectives and they flow together absolutely perfectly. Kristoff’s story is an heartbreaking tale of love, loss and perseverance and Katie’s had some parallel themes as well. The two narratives were separately engaging in their own way and I was truly enraptured by both stories. Kristoff lived in a time of despair and fear, but he still managed to cling to hope and love. Katie is experiencing her own tough time as she is in the process of divorcing her husband while dealing with the loss of her father’s mental faculties as he struggles with memory loss. Both were equally well drawn and I grew to care about them deeply by the end. These two separate tales merge in a way that was poignant and wonderfully romantic. 

I was pleasantly surprised by how engrossed I became in Kristoff’s story, especially as he trained to become a stamp engraver. This is a topic that I know next to nothing about, but it’s oddly interesting and beautiful. It was mainly so compelling to learn about how secret messages were used in the stamps as part of the resistance to Nazi Germany, the resourcefulness is an inspiration. 

Cantor has a really evocative, gorgeous writing style that truly swept me away. Being reminded of the power and beauty of good old fashioned letter writing was so touching, especially in today’s day and age of a technology hungry world. This was such a romantic, epic love story that truly touched my heart, I’ll be thinking of the characters for months to come. It would be an ideal pick for any book club as there are many thought provoking themes to discuss and ponder. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

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Release date: June 6, 2017

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

In the hushed aftermath of a total eclipse, Laura witnesses a brutal attack. She and her boyfriend Kit call the police, and in that moment, it is not only the victim’s life that is changed forever. Fifteen years on, Laura and Kit live in fear, and while Laura knows she was right to speak out, the events that follow have taught her that you can never see the whole picture: something, and someone, is always in the dark. 

Review: 

I love the blurb for this, it’s short, sweet and to the point, yet it still manages to pique your interest in just a few sentences. This was one of those reads where I think the less you know, the more you’ll enjoy the book, so I’m going to do my best to follow suit and keep my review on the shorter side as well. 

This is told in alternating timelines and from the perspectives of Kit and Laura, a couple who are eclipse chasers. It starts in 1999 when they attend a festival to see an eclipse and they stumble upon a sexual assault. They’re both horrified and don’t hesitate to report the crime.  It then flips forward fifteen years where they seem to be in hiding, they’ve changed their names and have a total ban on any type of social media. But what could have possibly happened to make them so afraid after they both testified at the rape trial as witnesses? After all, they did the right thing. But lies, secrets and betrayals are lurking in the shadows and nothing is as clear cut as it first appears to be. 

This was a slow starter, Kelly painstakingly lays the groundwork for some epic twists and turns later on down the road. It’s a methodical unraveling of events as she takes the reader down the rabbit hole to uncover the truth about that night in 1999. Then, at about the halfway point it morphs into a high intensity page turner as bits about what truly happen are revealed. This is where it became unputdownable for me. 

This was a dark thriller that really got under my skin. It explores some heavy themes about rape and the way victims are portrayed and treated that are unsettling. The whole book has a sense of unease as you constantly change your mind about whose version of events you believe and who is really trustworthy and reliable. I loved the constant guessing game and the twists were perfectly executed. The ending was chilling, right down to the final sentence, it left my mouth hanging open in shock and awe. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Minotaur Books for my review copy. 

(Looks like I didn’t really keep it short and sweet after all! 😜😂)

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Release date: June 6, 2017

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

Blurb: 

Relationships are awful. They’ll kill you, right up to the point where they start saving your life.

Paul and Alice’s half-sister Eloise is getting married! In London! There will be fancy hotels, dinners at “it” restaurants and a reception at a country estate complete with tea lights and embroidered cloth napkins. 

They couldn’t hate it more.

The People We Hate at the Wedding is the story of a less than perfect family. Donna, the clan’s mother, is now a widow living in the Chicago suburbs with a penchant for the occasional joint and more than one glass of wine with her best friend while watching House Hunters International. Alice is in her thirties, single, smart, beautiful, stuck in a dead-end job where she is mired in a rather predictable, though enjoyable, affair with her married boss. Her brother Paul lives in Philadelphia with his older, handsomer, tenured track professor boyfriend who’s recently been saying things like “monogamy is an oppressive heteronormative construct,” while eyeing undergrads. And then there’s Eloise. Perfect, gorgeous, cultured Eloise. The product of Donna’s first marriage to a dashing Frenchman, Eloise has spent her school years at the best private boarding schools, her winter holidays in St. John and a post-college life cushioned by a fat, endless trust fund. To top it off, she’s infuriatingly kind and decent.

As this estranged clan gathers together, and Eloise’s walk down the aisle approaches, Grant Ginder brings to vivid, hilarious life the power of family, and the complicated ways we hate the ones we love the most in the most bitingly funny, slyly witty and surprisingly tender novel you’ll read this year. 

Review: 

If you like snarky humor and watching a train wreck of a family unravel at the seams then I’ve got another great book to add to your summer reading list! First of all, the title/cover combination is pure gold, this is a great book to pick up this summer. It’s light, but has a bite due to its sardonic nature. This is a modern, cynical look at the dynamics of a highly dysfunctional family that could not be more entertaining. 

It’s told via alternating points of view, primarily through the eyes of Paul, Alice and Donna though you do hear from just about every character at some point. Every single one of them is deeply flawed and not very likable, but watching their relationships was utterly fascinating. These people do not hold anything back, they are brutally honest and at times it’s painfully awkward, but again absolutely entertaining as a reader. 

This has some racy, risqué scenes but it’s also infused with the type of humor that speaks to my soul. The writing is acerbic, intelligent and scarily insightful and is always filled with snark. It’s really witty and engaging, I read it pretty quick and can’t tell you how many times I vacillitated between giggling and being horrified. The way this family behaves is appalling! I think the book succeeded at what The Nest tried (and failed) to do. 

If I had one (minor) issue it would be that there was very little time at the wedding and I’m a sucker for drama at a wedding! At the end of the day though, this book isn’t really about a wedding, it’s about a really messed up family, so I’m not mad. 
Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Flatiron Books for my review copy. 

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Release date: June 6, 2017

Publisher: Lake Union 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

In this gripping, atmospheric family drama, a young woman investigates the forty -year -old murder that inspired her mother’s bestselling novel, and uncovers devastating truths—and dangerous lies.

Reformed party girl Meg Ashley leads a life of a privilege, thanks to a bestselling horror novel her mother wrote decades ago. But Meg knows that the glow of their very public life hides a darker reality of lies, manipulation, and the heartbreak of her own solitary childhood. Desperate to break free of her mother, Meg accepts a proposal to write a scandalous, tell-all memoir.

Digging into the past—and her mother’s cult classic—draws Meg to Bonny Island, Georgia and an unusual woman said to be the inspiration for the book. At first, island life seems idyllic, but as Meg starts to ask tough questions, disturbing revelations come to light…including some about her mother.

Soon, Meg’s search leads her to question the facts of a decades-old murder. She’s warned to leave it alone, but as the lies pile up, Meg knows she’s getting close to finding a murderer. When her own life is threatened, Meg realizes the darkness found in her mother’s book is nothing compared to the chilling truth that lurks off the page. 

Review: 

I found another gem of a book that y’all need to add to your summer reading lists ASAP! This was such a compelling read, I simply devoured it and it could be the ultimate definition of a page turner. It has a totally unique and fascinating premise, characters that ranged from the relatable to the odd and scary,  and a stunning atmosphere that was creepy and gorgeous at the same time. Don’t forget a crazy, multilayered mystery that goes back forty years and a hint of romance, what more could you want?!

This was a book within a book, what I like to call bookception, don’t be hesitant and assume it’s confusing because it’s not at all. Meg is the daughter of a super famous author best known for her cult classic, Kitten. It’s a classic seventies horror novel (think Carrie) and has a huge fan base. The formatting was genius and really gripped me, in between each chapter from Meg in present day you get excerpts from Kitten as well. I loved the kitschy vibe of these sections and if Mrs. Carpenter could go ahead and make Kitten a full length novel that would be great! The similarities between Kitten and what was actually happening in Meg’s life were eerie and awesome. 

The atmosphere had me completely absorbed, Meg travels to the hotel Kitten was based on and it’s now a ramshackle pit with only a handful of people working there. It was simultaneously spooky and beautiful and I fell right down the rabbit hole alongside Meg as she tried to untangle a massive web of lies her mother wove. Doro is the hotels owner and part of the inspiration behind the book and was such a complex and interesting character as well. 

This was a total binge read despite the complicated structure, it made me turn the pages faster as I grew desperate to know not only what Meg would uncover but also how Kitten ended. I’m blown away by how flawlessly Carpenter plotted this, it’s truly impressive. There is a lot of diversity here as the island has ties to Native American history which was a totally appreciated addition by me. I think it’s safe to say that Carpenter is the queen of Souther Gothic fiction, this book was a marvel.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy. 

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Release date: May 30, 2017

Publisher: Park Row Books

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

A shocking discovery and chilling secrets converge in this latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf 

When a tragic accident leaves nurse Amelia Winn deaf, she spirals into a depression that ultimately causes her to lose everything that matters–her job, her husband, David, and her stepdaughter, Nora. Now, two years later and with the help of her hearing dog, Stitch, she is finally getting back on her feet. But when she discovers the body of a fellow nurse in the dense bush by the river, deep in the woods near her cabin, she is plunged into a disturbing mystery that could shatter the carefully reconstructed pieces of her life all over again.

As clues begin to surface, Amelia finds herself swept into an investigation that hits all too close to home. But how much is she willing to risk in order to uncover the truth and bring a killer to justice?

New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf has been described as “masterful” and “intelligent” and compared to Lisa Scottoline and Jodi Picoult. Introducing her most compelling heroine yet, she delivers a taut and emotional thriller that proves she’s at the top of her class. 

Review: 

This is the second book I’ve read by Heather Gudenkauf and while I struggled with my first attempt, I’m so pleased to say that I enjoyed this one much more. While this wasn’t one of those crazy, twisted thrillers that I’m usually drawn to, it was still a highly entertaining read. 

This opened with a fantastic prologue, Amelia gets hit by a car and is badly injured and is now deaf. Fast forward to two years later and her life has changed drastically, and NOT for the better. Besides adjusting to life with a hearing impairment, she’s separated from her husband, David and stepdaughter Nora, she isn’t a nurse anymore, she’s battling an addiction to alcohol, and she’s living alone in an isolated house in the woods. Amelia was a highly original and unique protagonist and I’m always excited about something new and fresh in fiction. Seeing how she adapted to life with her impairment was really interesting and I think Gudenkauf handled the portrayal accurately and sensitively. 

After Amelia finds her old friend Gwen’s body she develops an obsession with finding her killer and starts looking into it on her own. An amateur detective always draws me in and when they have a partner like Amelia did in her service dog, Stitch, I’m hooked. He was such a great addition to the story and I loved watching the bond between him and Amelia. 

I’m a fan of Gudenkauf’s writing style, it’s sharp but still conveys a wide variety of emotions and fantastic descriptions. The visual descriptions were outstanding and I like to think Gudenkauf used this as a tool to show how Amelia had to rely more heavily on her other senses due to her hearing loss. This was pretty fast paced and suspenseful but not your typical thriller, I would say it’s an emotional thriller rather than a classic thriller. The author created an unforgettable cast of characters who I really liked and felt connected to and delivered a solid mystery that I didn’t quite figure out. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

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Release date: March 24, 2017

Publisher: Raucous Publishing 

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb: 

A new neighbour becomes a new friend. She looks up to you. She admires you, but is it you she wants? You begin to wonder if she wants your husband, or even your child. But then you realise, she wants your life. 

When Sharni and Tom move into 24 The Pines, it seems like Clare and Chris have the perfect neighbours. Sharni is always there to help, especially with childcare for Clare’s two-year-old, Ben. But Clare can’t shake off the feelings of anxiety that assail her whenever Sharni is near. Is Clare just being overprotective, or are her feelings justified? As Sharni‘s influence touches everyone around her, Clare finds herself fighting for her sanity as well her family. 

Review: 

Oohh what an addictive read! Once I started I didn’t put this one down, and despite one minor complaint, I loved every second of this read. Clare and Sharni were both woman who clearly had very dark, troubled pasts and trying to figure out which one of them was actually reliable was so fun. Clare is so fragile and already unstable, so when Sharni moves in next door, something about her immediately sets her on edge. Already a highly anxious person, Clare delves into full blown paranoia and I love nothing more than a erratic, edgy narrator. 

Things are told from Clare’s point of view until the halfway point when it flips to Sharni’s perspective and while I liked seeing things from her side, it was pretty repetitive. It basically, albeit more quickly, retold chunks of what you’ve already read from her eyes. I think it was definitely necessary to hear from her, I just wish it would’ve been done differently. It disrupted an otherwise fantastic flow to the story, BUT once the timelines merged it was very intense until the end. 

There were also brief sections from a therapy session between one of the woman and a doctor and I really liked trying to figure out which woman it was. This wasn’t predictable in the slightest and has plenty of killer twists and turns that surprised me. This book is pure entertainment of the best kind as long as you don’t think too hard about plausibility and the like. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

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Release date: June 1, 2017

Publisher: Penguin 

Genre: Psychological Thriller 

Blurb: 

There’s trouble in paradise. . .

For as long as she can remember, Jemma has been planning the perfect honeymoon. A fortnight’s retreat to a five-star resort in the Maldives, complete with luxury villas, personal butlers and absolute privacy. It should be paradise, but it’s turned into a nightmare.

Because the man Jemma married a week ago has just disappeared from the island without a trace. And now her perfect new life is vanishing just as quickly before her eyes. After everything they’ve been through together, how can this be happening? Is there anyone on the island who Jemma can trust? And above all – where has her husband gone? 

Review: 

I absolutely loved the premise for this, there seems to be a theme in psychological thrillers as of late where a husband disappears then the book focuses on the wife trying to uncover what really happened to them. Instead of being bored by this new trend,  I’m rather intrigued by it, especially when there’s a unique spin on it, and there is definitely a fresh perspective in The Honeymoon. 

This is broken into four parts and is told from Now and beginning seven and a half years previously when Jemma and her husband meet. Now is when he first goes missing and is so atmospheric, the suffocation of the humid island is portrayed perfectly and is shown not as paradise, but a hell on earth for Jemma. The flashbacks provide insight into the state of the couples relationship and of course nothing is as perfect as it first seems. Jemma narrates the bulk of the story, but some other key characters also get the chance to make their version of events heard, which I found a nice addition as Jemma isn’t especially likable.

This had everything I look for in a good psychological thriller, a great setting, untrustworthy characters, paranoia, fast pacing, and constant guesswork on my end. There was a twist very early on that surprised me, and then several more along the way. There weren’t too many just for the sake of having a bunch of shocking moments though, they all added something relevant to the plot. The big reveal towards the end was astonishing, I don’t know that anyone would be able to guess exactly what happened, it’s very disturbing and a bit out there, but was completely fascinating and satisfying to me. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy. 

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Release date: May 16, 2017

Publisher: Gallery Books

Genre: Women’s Fiction 

Blurb: 

Fall in love with The Simplicity of Cider, the charming new novel about a prickly but gifted cider-maker whose quiet life is interrupted by the arrival of a handsome man and his young son at her family’s careworn orchard by the author of The Coincidence of Coconut Cake and Luck, Love & Lemon Pie.

Focused and unassuming fifth generation cider-maker Sanna Lund has one desire: to live a simple, quiet life on her family’s apple orchard in Door County, Wisconsin. Although her business is struggling, Sanna remains fiercely devoted to the orchard, despite her brother’s attempts to convince their aging father to sell the land.

Single dad Isaac Banks has spent years trying to shield his son Sebastian from his troubled mother. Fleeing heartbreak at home, Isaac packed up their lives and the two headed out on an adventure, driving across the country. Chance—or fate—led them straight to Sanna’s orchard.

Isaac’s helping hands are much appreciated at the apple farm, even more when Sanna’s father is injured in an accident. As Sanna’s formerly simple life becomes increasingly complicated, she finds solace in unexpected places—friendship with young Sebastian and something more deliciously complex with Isaac—until an outside threat infiltrates the farm.

From the warm and funny Amy E. Reichert, The Simplicity of Cider is a charming love story with a touch of magic, perfect for fans of Sarah Addison Allen and Gayle Forman.

Review: 

I have to start by giving credit to that cover, it’s gorgeous and something about it speaks to my soul! I also just realized how much I’m adoring books from the imprint of Gallery Books, they publish strong, fresh, unique novels and I’ve especially loved their women’s fiction. If you haven’t checked them out yet I can highly recommend this book and I haven’t read any books by them that I haven’t really enjoyed.

This was my first Reichert book, but it most certainly will not be my last! She combined a modern day, swoon worthy romance with an incredible setting and she totally captured my heart with her lovely writing style. Sanna has a simple, quiet life but she’s content. Her whole life revolves around her families orchard and she especially enjoys making cider. Issac and Bass show up at the farm looking for a place to spend the summer and she’s not exactly pleased when her father hires them. 

I loved Sanna’s cantankerous personality because I just knew underneath her prickly exterior there was a heart of gold. Isaac was hot AND an amazing father, this is where I swoon. His son, Bass is one of those kids that wiggle their way into your life whether you want them to or not and the blossoming relationship between him and Sanna was one of my favorite things about this book.

Besides the lovely romance you have an idyllic setting, it was so enchanting. Learning about cider making was surprisingly fascinating and had me wanting to book a trip to an orchard in the fall. There was also just a hint of magic to the plot that added something truly special, who doesn’t like a little magic in their everyday life? I recommend this one to anyone wanting to make an escape from reality and enter a charming, quaint new place.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

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Release date: May 16, 2017

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

Kate, Aubrey, and Jenny. They first met as college roommates and soon became inseparable, even though they are as different as three women can be. Twenty years later, one of them is standing at the edge of a bridge . . and someone else is urging her to jump. 

How did things come to this?

As the novel cuts back and forth between their college years and their adult years, you see the exact reasons why these women love and hate each other—but can feelings that strong lead to murder? Or will everyone assume, as is often the case, that it’s always the husband? 

Review: 

The title of this book is what initially grabbed my attention, isn’t it great?! Then, when I read the blurb I was even more intrigued and by the time I read the short prologue I was hooked! I do want to start by saying that this seems to be getting mixed early reviews and I think Chelsea at The Suspense is Thrilling Me nailed the reason why. I read her review right before I started this because I knew I could trust her not to spoil anything and I’m so glad I did because it allowed me to reset my expectations about what type of book this actually is. 

This isn’t a super fast paced thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. It’s a slower buildup and the first half and second half read totally different from each other. The first is laying the foundation and follows the three women as they meet in college. The second half focuses more on present day which is twenty two years after college and things speed up and everything intensifies. If you can hang in through the slower beginning this is definitely worth the read. 

As I mentioned earlier the first half is a lot of backstory and character development about the women and their twisted, complicated relationships with each other. They call themselves friends, but are they really? There is tons of drama, secrets, lies, betrayals, and manipulations. It was extremely hard to pinpoint whodunnit when literally everyone is a suspect and has a solid motivation. I never mind a slower opening, especially if there’s a big payoff in the end and Campbell surely delivers, I did not see the twist in the end coming! 

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to BookSparks and St. Martin’s Press for my review copy.