Elle invites her besties from childhood, Claire, Lizzie, and Megan, to a swanky country house for a reunion. It was a surprise invite as they haven3.5
Elle invites her besties from childhood, Claire, Lizzie, and Megan, to a swanky country house for a reunion. It was a surprise invite as they haven’t seen each other in 20 years but the lure of a weekend away is too strong to pass up.
The three ladies arrive but Elle is nowhere to be found. She was always a prankster so they assume this is another of her pranks. Then strange things begin happening. Things that would have sent me packing for home.
Sound familiar? It should as this is not a new premise. It’s been done many times before. I don’t want to ruin the fun, but be prepared for the unexpected The surprises and twists keeps this interesting, although I wish they had come a bit earlier in the story. It was 70% before a dead body appears. The ending was a nice touch.
The full cast of narrators: Antonia Beamish, Deirdra Whelan, Helen Phillips, and Andy Cresswell were excellent.
Described as a mix of White Lotus and Agatha Christie, and a fan of both, this was a highly anticipated read.
Ellery travels alone to a swanky resort oDescribed as a mix of White Lotus and Agatha Christie, and a fan of both, this was a highly anticipated read.
Ellery travels alone to a swanky resort on what would have been her 20th wedding anniversary, but a divorce derailed those plans. The trip was pre-booked and her friend urges her to go anyway, only to find out the resort is filled with a wedding party. Bad decision #1 is she decides to stay, only to have torrential rains and a mudslide leaving her and other guests isolated with no communication to the outside world. Then the dead bodies start piling up.
With a raging storm and a murderer on the loose I loved the atmospheric setting but in the end it didn’t quite deliver the promised White Lotus/Agatha Christie vibes. The story fizzled and the sideline plot of missing art made my eyes glaze over. I did like Ellery’s character and her growth of self-discovery after her devastating divorce but the story was too convoluted and unbelievable, and my interest waned.
It wasn't a total loss. 3 stars is a good read, and I'll be interested to see what the author writes next....more
Lara is a former photo journalist who gave up her career to become a wedding photographer. She has a traumatic past: her sister Isabelle, alo3.5 stars
Lara is a former photo journalist who gave up her career to become a wedding photographer. She has a traumatic past: her sister Isabelle, along with Isabelle's twin sons were murdered. All evidence pointed to a murder-suicide by Isabelle’s husband, Jason, who remains missing.
The lone survivor was the couple’s five-year-old daughter, Lily, who is now fifteen, and aspires to be an “influencer”, posting on Tik Tok and garnering unwanted attention as she discusses her past.
But life moves on, until Lara sees a man in the background of one of her photos, a man who she identifies as her brother-in-law, Jason.
It’s been 10 years but Lara wonders if he is here to finish the job?
What follows is a fun twisty entertaining ride with plenty of surprises. The characters were engaging and kept me interested. This was my first book by this author and won't be my last.
* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own ...more
The author, a former flight attendant, has delivered another heart-stopping thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat!
The pilot suffers a heart attThe author, a former flight attendant, has delivered another heart-stopping thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat!
The pilot suffers a heart attack, while the co-pilot is trapped in the lavatory. The plane crashes, causing the inevitable death and mayhem. But the worst possible scenario? A nuclear power plant is hit by the debris. It’s damaged and they have 16 hours until catastrophe with global implications.
Each chapter is a countdown to disaster which keeps the tension ramped up.
What sets this book apart from other disaster novels are the human stories. We get to know not only the major players in the race against the clock to save the planet from disaster, we get the backstories of all involved.
When the worst-case scenario happens, the result is the best of humanity steps up. This is the story not just of disaster, but a story of everyday heroes. The bravery and the sacrifices made are touching and emotional.
The audiobook, narrated by Joe Morton, was excellent. The CB radio transmissions added an element of authenticity to the narrative and kept me on the edge of my seat. The tension was palpable and I flew through this one in little more than one day.
• I received review copies of both the audiobook and e-book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own...more
RANTY OUTLIER OPINION DISCLAIMER: many people loved this novel, but many others did not. I'm in the latter group, but, as always, YMMV.
This was one of RANTY OUTLIER OPINION DISCLAIMER: many people loved this novel, but many others did not. I'm in the latter group, but, as always, YMMV.
This was one of my most anticipated books of summer. It started out bonkers in a funny way> I'd never talk to my children this way, nor they to me, but it made for an amusing if unrealistic read. Plus the descriptions of the food they ate made me want to go to the beach and drink a mojito and eat a sandwich (haha, see what I did there?)
For many years we had a beach house and we have many fond memories of our family vacations there. I thought this might be a nostalgic read.
I’m a woman of a certain age who has grown children and navigated the years where I truly was sandwiched for years between teenagers who needed me and our aging and ill parents, so I thought I could relate.
But then…
• As far as I can tell the only relationship between Rocky and sandwiches is she was making sandwiches constantly. Now that I think about it maybe that’s why she was so pissed all the time. • Sandwich generation? Wait a minute. Her children are young adults who launched just fine and her parents are aging but living independently. This irritated me to no end. Trust me, Rocky had it easy. • Rocky (short for Rachel) started getting on my nerves. She’s angry and lashes out at everyone, especially her saintly husband. Her excuse for bad behavior is menopause. Sorry, no woman should use hormones as an excuse for being a shitty human. Get yourself to a GYN and get your hormones under control. Good lord, if I had read this as a young woman I’d be terrified (young women, don’t be, Rocky is insane) • Rocky’s constant reminiscing about her pregnancies and early motherhood, her rage, her menopausal symptoms, her vulgarity, her oh so witty and woke dialogue with everyone around her grew old and frankly, cringey. • Slight spoiler complaint: I did not need to hear about a miscarriage in such graphic detail (full disclosure: I'm a nurse, so far from squeamish, and I’ve had a miscarriage but this was unnecessary) • But what really killed this book for me was the incessant conversations that sounded like a woke lecture. No subject is left unexplored. Repeatedly. • The way the BIG DARK SECRET was exposed and the reaction from the person it affected the most made me want to throw the book across the room. (But, alas, I was listening on my phone.) *I'd love to be more specific but I can't without a spoiler. • Seriously, who are these people???? No one, and I mean no one, would utter the words this person uttered after finding out they had been lied to for so long on something this major. My eyes rolled out of my head • Another big dark family secret is so absurd as to be laughable. But then Rocky is so self-absorbed is it any wonder she never thought to question how her Jewish grandparents died?
• The BIG problem in this novel? It’s Rocky. SHE’S the problem!
Now I’m going to give this book to my husband so he can appreciate how lucky he is....more
The Van Laars family have a son, Peter, (Bear), go missing in 1961. He is never found. Inexplicably, in 1975 their teenage daughter, Barbara, also goeThe Van Laars family have a son, Peter, (Bear), go missing in 1961. He is never found. Inexplicably, in 1975 their teenage daughter, Barbara, also goes missing. Coincidence? Or something more sinister?
Set in the beautiful Adirondacks, the wealthy Van Laars family are the owners of a camp. But not everything happening in the family is beautiful.
The timeline is non-linear, shifting back and forth from 1961 to 1975, and told from multiple POV: Tracy, Barbara’s bunkmate at camp, Louise, the camp counselor, Alice, the children’s mother, and the detective, Judyta.
*Not my favorite style of storytelling so this likely affected my thoughts.
Don’t go into this expecting a fast-paced thriller. It is a literary mystery, a character study of damaged people with some heavy themes and long-held lies and secrets.
These are all elements that I usually love in a novel. So why not 5 stars? At 475 pages, the book seemed longer and I was often bored and anxious for it to be over. The writing is beautiful, but less is more. The split timelines and too many POV often made for a confusing read. Lastly, I found the ending rather fantastical and unsatisfying so this was not the 5-star slam dunk I was expecting. I liked it but didn’t love it.
Many have loved it, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. I simply prefer tighter storytelling. Still, I loved her books, HEFT, and THE LONG BRIGHT RIVER and I look forward to her next book....more
Meghan is an ICU nurse, recently divorced and living with her teenage daughter.
There are 3 main threads: - Caitlin, the unconscious patient, 4.5 stars!
Meghan is an ICU nurse, recently divorced and living with her teenage daughter.
There are 3 main threads: - Caitlin, the unconscious patient, an apparent failed suicide attempt. Meghan finds herself becoming emotionally attached to the patient and her family, even more so when police question if it was a suicide attempt or attempted murder. As Meghan becomes more embroiled in her patient’s life, she fears she’s putting herself & her daughter in danger. - Nat, an old friend from Caitlin’s high school days. Meghan reconnects with Nat, who has fallen on hard times and needs help. Meghan, being an empathetic soul, befriends her and even gives her a place to stay. - There’s a stalker/rapist loose in the city, which leaves Meghan feeling vulnerable and at risk
I’ve not been able to connect with all the author’s books but this was a winner. Very clever and even though I guessed one of the twists, there were still several surprises in store and moments that surprised and shocked me.
There’s a slow build to the twists & turns and Kubica does a great job keeping the tension high with a sense of foreboding as she brings these three seemingly disparate threads together. I loved watching this story unfold and I couldn’t put it down. I listened to the audiobook in 2 days....more
Camryn, a high school counselor, has written her debut and almost immediately is accused by online trolls of exploiting the teens she works with. The Camryn, a high school counselor, has written her debut and almost immediately is accused by online trolls of exploiting the teens she works with. The anonymous threats and the accusations from the social media snowball to the point she is fearful of her life and the life of her teenage daughter.
The present day story is interspersed with snippets of her debut novel.
The theme of reviewers who leave less than flattering reviews and the impact of social media is nothing new, and I feared it would be the same old, same old…
No fear…this was as fresh as could be and the story line kept me on my toes and listening as fast as I could. Camryn’s personal relationships play an important part of the narrative and provide context.
A mean girl theme is not my favorite but the author has crafted an engaging tale with relatable sympathetic characters.
This story let me get into the head of the MC and feel complete sympathy for her. I could feel her frustration and helplessness as the media mob went after her.
Recommended!
The audiobook was expertly Narrated by Megan Tusing & Jess Nahikian
Phoebe. Her life is a mess. I won’t give you the details so you can discover for yourself, but she’s had enough. She can’t take it anymore
* don’t reaPhoebe. Her life is a mess. I won’t give you the details so you can discover for yourself, but she’s had enough. She can’t take it anymore
* don’t read the synopsis and think this is a depressing read. I promise you it is not. It’s joyful and life-affirming.
Phoebe goes to the swanky Inn in Newport RI, the Inn she expected to visit with her husband.
Things don’t quite go as Phoebe intended. Turns out she won’t have a final blow-out splurge before departing this world. Instead she’s the only guest at the Inn who is not part of the wedding party and she can’t even get room service for a final meal.
Lila, the bride, isn’t thrilled that Phoebe may ruin her wedding and has a heart-to-heart with her. She has no boundaries and is disarmingly honest. Which makes her completely endearing.
Phoebe suddenly finds herself caught up in the wedding people, the wedding party that are at the inn for a week long celebration prior to Lila’s OTT nuptials.
I won’t ruin the fun but I’ll say this was completely delightful! It was fabulous and completely entertaining with plenty of humor & heart. The dialogue was snappy & witty. And not to be maudlin, but the overriding message was wise and tender and wonderful.
The characters were all delightful. 100% refreshingly funny and tender.
Don’t miss this one. A 5+ star read!! I loved everything about this story and was sad when it ended. It’s a rare book that completely captivates me the way this book did.
* I received a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own...more
This is a character-driven slice of life story that could be described as a slow burn but I prefer the term thoughtful, the kind of writing that reachThis is a character-driven slice of life story that could be described as a slow burn but I prefer the term thoughtful, the kind of writing that reaches down to my core and touches my soul.
Jack runs a restaurant, an establishment owned by his family for generations, a place where everyone knows your name. It’s a beach location but Jack’s beach chair is gathering dust in his closet. Who has time to lounge at the beach?
He has a string of failed relationships with no time for hobbies or his own interests but Jack is a good guy who cares deeply for the town and the people in it. This makes me care deeply for Jack.
He simply rarely gets this care and attention returned to him in kind. He’s approaching an age where he considers selling the restaurant but what will this mean for the town, his employees, and for himself?
Then Jack receives shocking news from his past that has him questioning his life choices and his path to the future. Jack is kind and generous to all, the type of good man we can and do admire. We get to know his employees and the townspeople, warts and all.
The story is interspersed with snippets from a guidebook on Rehoboth Beach, which were delightful. We are treated to bits of Jacks past life, current life, and his hopes for the future. There are deep issues touched upon but the overall tone and message is one of hope.
This is a quiet story that took hold of my heart. It’s the kind of writing that I absolutely love and I can’t recommend it enough!. This was my first book by this author and I’m including him in my short list of authors who write about the ordinary in extraordinary ways.
5+ stars!
* I received a digital copy for review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own. * The audiobook was flawlessly narrated by Chris Henry Coffey ...more
Two young boys, Ethan and Billy, are having a backyard sleepover. When Ethan wakes in the morning, the side of the tent in slit open and Bil4.5 stars
Two young boys, Ethan and Billy, are having a backyard sleepover. When Ethan wakes in the morning, the side of the tent in slit open and Billy is gone.
Billy is never found. Time passes, neighbors move away….fast forward 30 years, and family circumstances brings Ethan back to his childhood home. Creepy things begin happening in the middle of the night. Someone is lurking around the neighborhood at night and there are signs of Billy’s presence in Ethan’s yard.
Ethan is determined to find out the truth of what happened to Billy all those years ago. As he investigates, the quiet neighborhood of Hemlock Circle has plenty of secrets to reveal, and then there’s the strange Hawthorne Institute deep in the woods. Did they play a part in Billy’s disappearance?
Some readers didn’t think it had enough chills & thrills but Sager’s writing always draws me in. Surprisingly, for a thriller, there were even a couple of moments that brought tears to my eyes. I really enjoyed the dark atmospheric, the “paranormal lite” vibe, the nostalgic flashbacks to the 90s, and the trademark Sager twists & surprises that made this a fun summer read that I flew through.
I love it when someone’s surname seems to fit them to a T. Psychiatrist Dr Caroline Strange, is, well…strange. And I mean that in the best possible waI love it when someone’s surname seems to fit them to a T. Psychiatrist Dr Caroline Strange, is, well…strange. And I mean that in the best possible way. If you like characters who are snarky, and off their rocker, then you will enjoy her as much as I did.
The story is told from 3 POV: • Dr Caroline Strange • Ellen Garcia, a woman who has been kidnapped and held hostage. She may have questionable morals but she’s a badass and I enjoyed hearing her thoughts too • Gordon Strong, a person who may be more unhinged than Dr. Strange. It’s unclear at first the part he plays in the story but trust the author to bring it all together.
Dr Caroline, as she prefers to be called, has a patient who confesses that he is thinking about killing someone and tells the doctor ‘I know who you really are”. When she hears reports of a missing reporter, she wonders if her patient has made good on his threats of murdering someone.
But mostly she’s concerned about the latter part of his message. Just what does he know and how much of a threat is he to her? Dr Strange has a troubling incident from her childhood that she would prefer remain hidden.
When police discover the kidnapped woman is a reporter who named Dr Strange as one of the worst 10 doctors in their area, they set their sights on the doctor as their main suspect. Dr Caroline decides to do her own investigating and in doing so, her past seems to have caught up to her.
Did I ever love this one! The dark humor and Dr Caroline’s thoughts were an utter delight. If you love to hate unlikable characters who nonetheless makes you laugh, you will love living inside this character’s head too.
The plotting, the red herrings, and the characters made this a page turner with plenty of twists and turns and an ending that was satisfying while managing to take me completely by surprise.
Pop the popcorn and settle in for a fun read. The audiobook narrators were excellent: Megan Tusing, Robb Moreira, and Stephanie Németh-Parker
• I received a digital review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ...more
A very smart and clever thriller! I read a lot of thrillers and this is a must read because it’s so refreshingly different.
Martha is a quiet librarianA very smart and clever thriller! I read a lot of thrillers and this is a must read because it’s so refreshingly different.
Martha is a quiet librarian who thinks she’s destined to be alone, until she finds quiet, nerdy Alan, a salesman who travels for work. Life isn’t all that exciting after they marry, and she wonders how well she really knows Alan, but she’s content.
Until she finds a spot of blood on one of Alan’s shirts, and she witnesses him acting strangely. She does some sleuthing and discovers a pattern of unsolved murders in the cities Alan traveled to. Could she be married to a serial killer?
Martha enlists the help of her old friend Lily Kintner to assist her in the investigation, and eventually Henry Kimball is brought in as well. What they find is more twisted and darker than anyone could imagine.
I flew through this book and had to pick my jaw up off the floor more than once. I loved the characters and the dynamic between Kintner & Kimball.
Endings are difficult but Swanson nailed this one. It was perfect!
I highly recommend the audiobook. The full cast audio performance was excellent. ...more
This was smart, fun, and a wild ride. Breanna is supposed to be on a romantic vacation with her new boyfriend Ty in a luxurious rented house. EverythiThis was smart, fun, and a wild ride. Breanna is supposed to be on a romantic vacation with her new boyfriend Ty in a luxurious rented house. Everything is great until she wakes one morning to find Ty gone and a dead body in the living room.
In recent days, the disappearance of a young woman, Janelle, has gone viral and the public and the Internet is obsessed with the case. A famous influencer conducts her own investigation on social media.
When a dead white woman shows up in Breanna & Ty’s apartment you can imagine the mob mentality.
Meanwhile, Bree is all alone in a new city while being treated like the perp by the police and in the court of public opinion. She’s on a mission to figure out what really happened.
The plot is fast-paced and engaging, and for a popcorn read (meaning just enjoy the ride but don’t look too closely), this was great fun. ...more
How did the author manage to make a serious book about a woman shot in the head so FUNNY?!
Dr Charly McKenna is a dermatologist with a successful careHow did the author manage to make a serious book about a woman shot in the head so FUNNY?!
Dr Charly McKenna is a dermatologist with a successful career, a handsome husband, and an apt overlooking Central Park. Life is good until the night she’s shot in the head, leaving her with left neglect and no memory of what happened.
As she spends her days at a rehab hospital we get to know more about Charly as well as several of the patients & staff. The author is a physician, which lends authenticity to this part of the story.
I LOVED IT!! This is the most fun I’ve had listening to a book in a long, long time.
Although there is a mystery, don’t read this expecting a thriller. It is not, as the resolution is pretty obvious. Come for the characters, the charm, and the humor.
The narrator was superb. She had just the right tone and brought the characters to life. I absolutely recommend listening to those one!...more
This is a fun one, perfect for an escapist summer read.
The authors describe it as “Succession-esqe” and more than one reviewer has described the stor This is a fun one, perfect for an escapist summer read.
The authors describe it as “Succession-esqe” and more than one reviewer has described the story as Pretty Woman meets Succession.
Of course it’s much more light-hearted than Succession. Anna Green is our quirky but sweet Pretty Woman. She enters into a fake marriage in order to get student housing but they barely see or know each other when they part ways 3 years later.
She thought she was divorced but it seems she didn’t read the papers and she discovers she is still very much married to Liam.
Turns out Liam’s wealthy family thinks they are still married and his inheritance is dependent on him staying that way. So he makes Anna an offer she can’t refuse and they take off for a lavish family wedding weekend on a tropical island.
Anna is the yin to Liam’s yang, which makes for a fun dynamic. Anna is an extroverted pink-haired starving artist while Liam is strait-laced and buttoned up. But we discover there’s so much more to both of them.
This, combined with the lush tropical setting, the OTT wedding, and the Succession- type family dynamics, made for a fun engaging read.
Note that the bedroom door is wide open - very spicy! I don’t understand the need to include such explicit sex scenes. I’m no prude but this was OTT and cringey, what I would call erotica. The story would have been stronger if the authors had toned it down. ...more
A little bit of froth and a side helping of romance, along with a murder.
The Saint is an upscale 5-star resort on an island 3.5 stars - a good read!
A little bit of froth and a side helping of romance, along with a murder.
The Saint is an upscale 5-star resort on an island off the coast of Georgia. If you grew up going here every year as a guest you were a “Saint”. If you grew up unable to vacation there, but were part of the summer service staff, you were an “ain’t”.
Ouch
Devious characters, murders to solve, family drama, and juicy secrets keep this from being the frothy read the cover suggests.
At 400 pages, there were a lot of characters and side plots but the author did a great job of bringing it all together. It was interesting with great character development but would have been even stronger with 75 or so less pages.
* The narrator of the audio book, Kathleen McInerney was excellent.
* I received a digital copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own....more
Five years ago, Lucy was found walking by the side of the road covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood and suffering from amnesia. The town is convinFive years ago, Lucy was found walking by the side of the road covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood and suffering from amnesia. The town is convinced of her guilt, although police were unable to find enough evidence to charge her. Lucy moves away to escape the suspicion, but has now returned for her grandmother’s birthday.
Ben Owens, who has a true crime podcast, Listen For the Lie, arrives in town to cover the cold case and hopefully solve Savvy’s murder. Lucy’s grandmother’s convinces Lucy to help Ben.
I loved the humor and snark, and the short chapters and podcast sections worked particularly well on audio, and contributed to the fast pace. What I didn’t love was the voice in Lucy’s head grew tiresome after a while, and the denouement was somewhat less than satisfying.
However, the plusses outweighed the negatives, and it was an enjoyable read.
The audiobook narrators, January LaVoy and Will Damron, were excellent....more
When children’s librarian Daphne is dumped by her fiance Peter for his longtime best friend Petra, Daphne finds herself stranded in a small Michigan tWhen children’s librarian Daphne is dumped by her fiance Peter for his longtime best friend Petra, Daphne finds herself stranded in a small Michigan town and moving in with Petra’s ex-boyfriend Miles.
Sound convoluted??
It is. And you know where this is going. The joy is in the journey. I love a fluffy summer read with substance, with humor & snark, and this book delivers. A lighter read with substance is one of my favorites.
I loved the Michigan setting, the friendship plotline, and the emphasis the author puts on the MC learning to make a life for herself without a partner.
Another winner! I can’t wait to see what next summer brings! ...more
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