Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Dervla McTiernan for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Nina and her boyfriend, Simon, head out for a Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Dervla McTiernan for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Nina and her boyfriend, Simon, head out for a weekend of hiking, aiming to rekindle their relationship amid nature. But when only Simon returns, the question everyone's asking is: What happened to Nina? This riveting, ripped from the headlines novel plunges us right into the middle of the story, but I want to be clear - this is not a mystery. From the very beginning, we're pretty much aware of what has happened, who has done it, and why. The real story here is watching the events unfold against a backdrop of family loyalty, media frenzy, and a gripping investigation. The story, told through the eyes of Nina's mother, Nina's stepfather, Simon's mother, Simon's father, and the detective on the case, is a harrowing tale of the way that violence can impact us all.
This book is a deep dive into the complexities of human relationships. Through the turmoil of the search for Nina, we see two families pitted against each other—Nina's, desperate for answers, and Simon's, protective and wary of the mounting allegations against their son. What sets this book apart is its ability to mirror the real-world spectacle that often surrounds such tragic events, but also comment effectively in a way that leaves it feeling singular. The armchair detectives, the viral hashtags, the spiraling conspiracies - it's all too familiar.
If you're a fan of dark and complex stories that make you examine the darker facets of human nature, this book is an absolute must-read. By the end, my heart was going to burst for Nina - and, let's be honest here, Gabby Petito. 5 stars. ...more
Helen Zhang, a bestselling YA novelist, is thirteen years removed from the suicide of her sister - a tragedy that will fYou're so easy to love, Helen.
Helen Zhang, a bestselling YA novelist, is thirteen years removed from the suicide of her sister - a tragedy that will forever link her to Grant Shepard. She's succeeded at building a fortress around her heart, but when her and Grant are thrust back into each other's worlds in the writer's room for the adaptation of Helen's novels, her carefully constructed walls begin to show cracks.
Helen is truly a character study in resilience and depth. She goes on a powerful and poignant journey through grief and self-discovery. Grant is layered and compelling - exactly the way that I like my love interests. The dynamic between Helen and Grant is filled with so much tension that you can't help but root for them, despite their painful past.
This isn't just a book - it's a masterclass in blending the complex, the tragic, and the beautiful into a contemporary romance that grips you by the heart and will not let go. It's clear that Kuang has brought her screenwriting past into her literary debut - the dialogue here is sharp, the scenes she paints are vivid, and the journey each of the characters take is both sensitive and nuanced. Not to mention... this is STEAMY. No closed doors here! The ending is also incredibly satisfying and feels totally earned and true to the characters she has created.
This is a beautifully written and deeply affecting story that will stay with me for a long time - an easy 5 stars.
This book is out 4/2. Thank you to Yulin Kuang, Avon Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review....more
Thank you to Delacorte, NetGalley, and Holly Jackson for the ARC!! Holly you will truly always be famous.
Holly Jackson is an autobuy author for me, whThank you to Delacorte, NetGalley, and Holly Jackson for the ARC!! Holly you will truly always be famous.
Holly Jackson is an autobuy author for me, which is a delight for me as a reader, but also means my expectations for her are set QUITE high! Luckily, she always lives up to them. This is a fun and wild ride. I didn't like it as much as Five Survive, which I thought was darker and more intense, and I didn't find this one quite as inventive as some of her other work. However, I really just couldn't down. It's so compulsively readable, and the characters at the heart of the story are really lovable (even if Bel does make some... insane decisions at times). I wish this had wrapped up a tad less neat, but overall... You have done it again Ms. Jackson. 4.5 stars! ...more
this is very good, but i just feel like i've read it so many times. i wanted it to stand out a bit morethis is very good, but i just feel like i've read it so many times. i wanted it to stand out a bit more...more
Thank you to NetGalley, Akwaeke Emezi, and Riverhead Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Despite the short length, this book packs quitThank you to NetGalley, Akwaeke Emezi, and Riverhead Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Despite the short length, this book packs quite a punch - it was, in all honesty, quite difficult to read! The characters take moral grayness to an extreme and this book is extremely violent and extremely sexual, often at the exact same time. I was fascinated by the way this book intertwined sex and power so... casually? The deviance written here has an almost offhand tone, which makes it somehow more disturbing than it would be on its own. I feel like I need to spend some time on r/eyebleach after this one. Take the trigger warnings to heart with this one for sure!...more
Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately I really didn't enjoy this! The "mThanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately I really didn't enjoy this! The "missing white woman" syndrome is real and I thought this had the chance to be an interesting commentary about it and it fell very short. Underdeveloped characters, very little actual action (or resolution), and a "twist" that I guessed from the very beginning of the book. ...more
Thanks to Berkeley, Lynn Painter, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
This was my first Lynn Painter book and iThanks to Berkeley, Lynn Painter, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
This was my first Lynn Painter book and it was just a blast. This is just two hot, smart, witty people who deadass cannot keep their hands off of each other. This didn’t reinvent the wheel or anything but it was perfectly fun. The way she describes KISSES had my heart fluttering?! 3.5 to 4ish stars and now I know when you’re in a slump, Lynn Painter is the gal to help....more
Thanks to NetGalley and Mindy's Book Studio for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
A really interesting premise and a gorgeous cThanks to NetGalley and Mindy's Book Studio for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
A really interesting premise and a gorgeous cover but unfortunately the quality of writing is just... extremely poor. I would say juvenile, but I actually enjoy young adult literature! The plot of this ended up being bad enough, but this was a struggle to read down to just basic sentence structure. ...more
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