Well this is a twisted little number from Jesse Q Sutanto! Toxic friendship taken to the extreme when two best friends and influencers have a falling Well this is a twisted little number from Jesse Q Sutanto! Toxic friendship taken to the extreme when two best friends and influencers have a falling out and one goes missing…
Meredith Lee and Aspen Palmer were both influencers and best friends, until success tore them apart. Meredith was more successful at the influencing game… at first. After helping Aspen learn the ins-and-outs, co-posting with her, and even giving her the name “Aspen” (soooo much better than her old name), Aspen finally took off. But it isn’t long before Aspen far surpasses Meredith in popularity. A lot of this can be contributed to her early fans responding well to her relationship, which turned into a marriage, which turned into three kids.
Now a momfluencer with millions of followers, Aspen doesn’t have a need for Meredith anymore. After a blow up fight, the two haven’t spoken for months. But when Meredith discovers Aspen’s daughter’s iPad and instant access to her life (and calendar), she realizes she has a way to get to Aspen. Some light stalking and a few changed calendar appointments later, Aspen’s life is falling apart. But she didn’t get where she was by being naïve—Aspen has plenty of tricks up her sleeve as well. Which one of these frenemies will win?
I absolutely loved this book! I was tickled by the tidbit that Aspen was burying carrots in her garden only to video herself digging them up, pretending she grew them! We all go the extra mile for the gram, amirite?
A twisty thriller that packs a punch from start to finish. Obsession, friendship, and jealousy swirl around and you won’t know who will end up on top when it all stops!
Thank you Berkley Publishing for my copy! Opinions are my own....more
The book is told though multiple narrators: Hannah, her husband Allan, a boy who goes by Greene, a violinist named Josh, andThis book was unexpected!
The book is told though multiple narrators: Hannah, her husband Allan, a boy who goes by Greene, a violinist named Josh, and a local woman named Caroline. I found the multiple narrators hard to keep track of at the beginning, especially since it wasn’t clear how they all tied together. But when they started piecing together, boy was it worth it and juicy!!! Each time the characters intertwined their stories was like a puzzle coming together.
The book is started by the discovery of the body next door, but that takes a backseat while everything else comes together. I wanted to know whose body it was and what happened, but the characters were sort of avoiding it in a sense and that was even more interesting.
I thought I had Hannah and Allan figured out, but even their marriage had surprises in store. One twist in particular about 80% in really got my juices going--it was so delightfully out of left field.
There's an air of folklore and mysticism over the whole book. It's not paranormal and people who aren't sure about witchcraft or small bits of magic will enjoy this book. It could be left out, but it worked because it added this atmospheric quality to the story. Depth, my friends!
The ending was good, after a slow set up. About 40% in the story picks up and things make a lot more sense, but there are reveals throughout the rest of the story.
This was surprisingly juicy! I expected a more somber novel given the title and cover. Instead, The Astrology House is a soapy portrayal of a group ofThis was surprisingly juicy! I expected a more somber novel given the title and cover. Instead, The Astrology House is a soapy portrayal of a group of friends who are harboring a lot of secrets. And isn’t a retreat where they are all isolated from the outside world in close quarters the perfect place for their secrets to come bursting out? I certainly think so!
In terms of the structure of the book, changing perspectives made it difficult for me to get the handle on who everyone was and how they relate to one another for the first 20% of the book. Margot is married to Ted (investment banker) who is best friends with Rick. Rick is married to Eden. That's one grouping. Margot's brother is Adam (novelist). Adam is married to a social media influencer named Aimee. Aimee is best friends with Farah (OBGYN). Farah is married to Joe (politician).
Let's just say these people are all twisted together in a web of lies and secrets. I was glad there were redeemable characters. Farah was my favorite character, but I also liked Aimee and to a lesser extent Margot. I questioned some of Margot's choices at the end, if I'm honest. But I also question some of the author's choices! More on that in my spoiler review.
This is quite a book! I wasn’t expecting to sucked in so quickly, but I can’t resist a slightly unhinged narrator and Meredith is teetering on the edgThis is quite a book! I wasn’t expecting to sucked in so quickly, but I can’t resist a slightly unhinged narrator and Meredith is teetering on the edge of unhinged and wading into the wrong side of good judgment. This is a book that is hard to talk about because there are lots of little (and big) twists along the way.
The story centers around psychiatrist Meredith McCall who lives and practices in New York City. Two years ago an injury led her husband Connor to become addicted to pain medication. Then, a tragic accident leads everything to fall apart.
In the present, Meredith is picking up the pieces of her life. She’s begun mandatory therapy as part of the conditions to start her psychiatric practice back up. Her marriage is over. And she’s lightly stalking Gabriel Wright. It frustrated Meredith that Gabriel seems to be doing so well after the tragedy that changed both of their lives when she is not. She starts following him—only sometimes—and observing his life. He meets with women, he teaches at a university, and he stops by a storage facility regularly.
But when Gabriel Wright unexpectedly walks into her psychiatry practice, Meredith is stunned. He seems to have no clue who she is, and genuinely is seeking therapy. Meredith knows it’s unethical to treat him—especially without disclosing their connection—but she can’t seem to turn him away. As she continues to see him, her life unravels. Could things get any worse? In this case, they can and they do…
The tragedy two years earlier is vague at first. The reader learns right away that Gabriel lost his wife and daughter as a result, and that Meredith blames herself. But from the beginning we know that Meredith’s guilt seems tied to Connor’s involvement in the tragedy, rather than her own.
I thought it was interesting that Meredith was so honest with her therapist about her obsessive behavior, especially since he is part of her board remediation to retain her license and her practice. Things reach a new level when Gabriel directly enters Meredith’s sphere as a patient. Is it a coincidence? It appears to be.
The entire book is addictive! Meredith may have been obsessed with Gabriel, but I was obsessed with this book. Lots of twists and turns and a great zinger added right at the end. Don’t look ahead! Let it unfold....more
This book was a train that lost control and at some point it barreled right off the tracks in the best way. Camryn Lane is a school counselor and authThis book was a train that lost control and at some point it barreled right off the tracks in the best way. Camryn Lane is a school counselor and author who just published her first book. But when an anonymous account starts harassing her, claiming she stole the stories in her book from her student's personal lives, Camryn's life spirals out of control. As a cadre of internet trolls flood her social media with hate, it seems someone close to her may be behind it all.
I was right there with Camryn. Not only is it upsetting to get a negative review, but this was also a personal attack on Camryn’s character—and a false one at that. It was easy to see how things got so out of hand. Camryn tried several approaches, from the classic refusal to engage (don't feed the trolls) to trying to justify her side. It just keeps getting worse and I was cringing every time Camryn made another bad move. I was covering my eyes. Don’t do it, Camryn! At the same time, I can be realistic and say I’d probably react too. These are horrible accusations that not only hurt her book sales, but are causing destruction to her professional and personal lives. I would be devastated and panicked!
As you might imagine, this only makes things worse. I have spoilers about the ending and my thoughts on it over on my blog. If you already finished the book, join me over there so we can try to unpack the events of the book, explain the ending, and get into how this all came together.
If you aren’t joining me for spoilers, I hope you give this book a try! It’s a fantastic, suspenseful read. ...more
Eliza Jane Brazier writes the most bizarre books, but in such a delicious and fun way. There's no other way around it--her characters are weird! In ItEliza Jane Brazier writes the most bizarre books, but in such a delicious and fun way. There's no other way around it--her characters are weird! In It Had to Be You, two contract killers are attracted to each other, but they may also be trying to kill one another. There are some fun twists and I liked getting perspectives from both main characters. This is a very twisted love story, in some ways. I liked the way everything came together. A fair warning that there is a bit of steam in a few scenes!
It reminds me of a cross between Mr. and Mrs. Smith and A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing. The audiobook is narrated by January Lavoy and Will Damron, who not only are amazing together as narrators, but are married in real life!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Penguin Random House for my copy. Opinions are my own....more
May Cobb writes thrillers that nudge that delicious line of voyeurism that make them extra juicy. Suspenseful, soapy, a tiny bit steamy, and full of sMay Cobb writes thrillers that nudge that delicious line of voyeurism that make them extra juicy. Suspenseful, soapy, a tiny bit steamy, and full of surprises—I haven’t read a book by Cobb that I didn’t love! Her latest summer thriller, The Hollywood Assistant, follows a woman who moves to LA to be an assistant to an elite Hollywood couple, only to find herself the prime suspect in a murder investigation.
Cassidy is a boy-crazy piece of work! I felt for her, she had her heartbroken and that isn’t easy. Now she’s starting over in a new job (which to be fair, is pretty amazing) in a city where she doesn’t know anyone. Except her friend Lexie (who got her the job), but Lexie is in Prague filming for several months. Poor Cassidy has to hang out at the gorgeous home of the rich and famous, getting free clothes and flirting with the husband.
An interesting thing about this book is that Cassidy isn’t fully in on Nate over Marisol. Often in these sorts of premises, the young, impressionable woman is all-in on stealing the man from the wife. That isn’t exactly what is going on with Cassidy and the Sterlings, though. If anything, Cassidy is equally as enamored with Marisol–both admiring and envying her. Nate can be a bit hot and cold, but Marisol seems lovely. Until some more events unfold…
An unhinged, self-absorbed narrator begins writing to an accused serial killer in Love Letters to a Serial Killer. I found this book so fun—if you enjAn unhinged, self-absorbed narrator begins writing to an accused serial killer in Love Letters to a Serial Killer. I found this book so fun—if you enjoy unlikable narrators, this is a great read!
I suspect this book won’t be for everyone (but aren’t those sometimes the best books?). Hannah is self-absorbed and illogical to a maximum extent, and those who need to understand why someone makes the decisions they do (and agree with them) probably won’t find Hannah to be the most relatable. At the same time, Hannah often made me laugh with her bizarre and unexpected takes on life. I thought she was a lot of fun, and the audiobook narration by Andi Arndt is perfection.
Hannah’s spiral that led her to write letters to accused serial killer William isn’t what I expected. When Max ghosts her, moves on to another girl, and blocks her on social media, it coincides with the first murder. In the wake of this, Hannah gets involved with an online true crime forum where she gets overly invested in the case. As more bodies are discovered, Hannah becomes obsessed. Absurdly, she seems to find a connection between what she went through with Max and what the women are going through. This is what prompts her to write to William, telling him off as though he were the one who ghosted her.
Eventually, Hannah’s obsession with the case leads her to lose her job. Hannah attends the trial and she meets a few other true crime junkies obsessed with the case. They are an odd trio and I found it amusing how they simultaneously are one another’s only support who truly gets it, but also how they are sort of in competition with one another. When William is released from prison, Hannah and him settle down and that is when the fun begins. Hannah is constantly collecting tidbits that are either in support of or against William being a serial killer. For his part, William doesn’t confess nor deny the crimes. Is he truly a serial killer? And if so, who is his accomplice for the fifth murder that happened while he was in prison?
This is a wild story and the ending is somehow even more wild than I even expected! Enjoy the ride here—this book has a lot to unpack when you get to the end and trust me, you won’t see it coming!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own....more
Lucy Foley is a master at weaving compelling thrillers, atmospheric settings, and hints of lore into compelling mysteries. THE MIDNIGHT FEAST is no exception! Told in alternating narrators, Foley has described this book as Soho Farmhouse meets The Wicker Man. Even that may undersell it! Set in a luxury resort nestled into beautiful forest with a cliffside pool and high-end woodland hutches, there is an ominous tone to the story. Can the vast nature surrounding the resort accept this interference? Is there something lurking?
Despite the vast nature surrounding The Manor, there is a claustrophobic feel to the story as tension mounts and the reader recognizes how isolated the characters are at the retreat. There’s references to great horror films—Midsommar and The Birds, to name a few. But this is not a horror story, it’s more of a folklore-mystery and I couldn’t put it down!
Francesca has worked hard to transform her family’s coastal estate into a luxury retreat, complete with white linen-clad employees, a spa, woodland “hutches” with outdoor baths, and a stunning cliffside swimming pool. Francesca’s husband Owen happens to be the architect “Pagan chic”—nothing crusty or too dark. Crystals at check-in, charged up for the guests to immediately use for healing.
But as the opening night commences and heads towards a midnight celebration for the guests, it’s clear that some people are there for reasons other than just to enjoy the luxury amenities. Bella, for instance, seems out of her element. Is she really wealthy like the others, or is there another reason she is here? And what is going on with Owen and Francesca’s seemingly small, but odd story about how they connected?
Secrets are lurking beneath the grand opening, and events from fifteen years ago may not be as buried as they thought. Everything will come to a head at the midnight feast…
Thank you to William Morrow for my copy. Opinions are my own....more
Wanda M. Morris’s third novel publishes today and this is one you need on your summer TBR list! I’ve read all three of her books now and they are all Wanda M. Morris’s third novel publishes today and this is one you need on your summer TBR list! I’ve read all three of her books now and they are all different but equally gripping.
In WHAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND, a lawyer named Deena Wood is reeling after the loss of her mother, her marriage, and her prestigious job at an Atlanta law firm. These types of changes peel a person back to their core, and it can be hard to know who we are without these layers that become our identity.
Deena returns to her hometown of Brunswick, Georgia in hopes of rebuilding her life. This isn’t the restorative journey it sounds like. Deena finds solace driving through the town she was raised in, and one day this brings her to the oceanfront property of a local widower who mistakes her for a realtor who is after his land. This property has belonged to his family since the civil war, and he doesn’t take kindly to her presence.
Deena is followed by a mysterious car on her way home, and it isn’t long before she learns that the widower has disappeared and his property is put up for sale. Deena is troubled by these two events which seem connected. As she digs into the mystery surrounding the old man and his familial property, she uncovers something much more dangerous and twisted than she originally thought. Now, she needs help if she hopes to uncover the truth and avoid becoming the next target.
This is a twisty plot that pulled me deep into the depths of the story. Morris has an incredible ability to build dynamic, flawed, and authentic characters. She thrives fleshing out the stories of a person stripped to their core with nothing else to turn to but their own wits and intelligence.
I loved how the Gullah-Geecee culture was woven into the story. Often it’s easy to focus on what challenges African Americans face in the US today, but this is a reminder that their trauma goes back deep into their heritage.
Haunting, vibrant, thought-provoking, and gripping!
Thank you to William Morrow for my copy. Opinions are my own....more
The new Kimberly Belle is out and it opens with a bang! A woman is going through customs in France when she’s stopped and arrested. A stolen book is sewn into the lining of her bag, and it’s one she’s never seen before…
THE PARIS WIDOW is a gripping mystery that I was hooked on. If you’ve read Belle before, you’ll know she not only has some twists up her sleeve, but she’ll also find a way to end the book on a high note. I didn’t know how it would end, but Belle never leaves us hanging. We always get some closure, even if it’s not what we expected.
Stella and Adam are at the end of a three-week European vacation. When Adam leaves his glasses at a café the day they are set to depart, the couple separates with Stella going back to the hotel to get their luggage. But before she can do that, an explosion rocks the streets of Paris. In the wake of the explosion, everything is in chaos, and it’s not long before Stella realizes Adam never returned to the hotel. Was he a victim of the bombing?
When Adam never resurfaces, things look dire. A detective meets with Stella, but he’s not looking to help her, he’s looking for information. Adam was under investigation for his role in the trade of rare and stolen antiquities. Stella is shocked—wouldn’t she know if her husband was doing something so illegal? But a more troubling though occurs to her… perhaps Adam wasn’t a victim of the explosion but rather, the target.
This is only the beginning! Adam sure had some secrets that start to come out, but Stella has a secret or two of her own. The mystery has a quick pace, and I didn’t find any slow parts. I was curious about Adam, but I was also curious about the shady figures that seemed to keep popping up around Stella. How big was this operation?
A great summer thriller to add to your TBR!...more
The premise of this book was one I couldn’t resist from the moment I saw it pop up on my radar. Fire fighters have always been upheld as heroes in my The premise of this book was one I couldn’t resist from the moment I saw it pop up on my radar. Fire fighters have always been upheld as heroes in my eyes. In the novel, a tight-knit crew called Ladder 51 aren’t just heroic public servants, they’re brilliant and ruthless thieves. Ben, Jakey, Matt, and Engo use their extensive knowledge of buildings and architecture to plan their heists, and have stolen millions from banks, jewelry stores, and galleries. Their chosen career path is the perfect alibi—who would think a group of New York City firefighters could possibly be behind the string of heists?
A woman who is new to the team, Andy Nearland, is our narrator. As the book opens, Andy is on her knees being accused of being an undercover cop, right alongside fellow team member Ben. Three months earlier, Ben is thinking about how wrong everything has gotten. His girlfriend and his son have disappeared. He joined Ladder 51 when he was young, and has looked up to Matt as a father-figure, but now he suspects Matt may have something to do with their disappearances. In a spiral to discover the truth, Ben contacted the police about the crew and eventually Andy enters the scene.
Andy is a freelance investigator who has a knack for going undercover. Andy partners with the FBI, and her handler Tony is pushing to put the four-man crew away for the robberies. Andy is more interested in helping to find Ben’s missing family. She makes her way onto the crew, hoping to find out what is really going on. But nothing goes as planned and secrets are revealed.
The characters make Devil’s Kitchen stand out, even more than the story. From the first chapter they are well-defined, interesting, and somewhat elusive. What are each of their motivations to operate in this immoral space? This is an edge-of-your-seat thriller, entertaining from start to finish. There is no slow build here, the book drew me in from the first chapter. It has a cinematic feel to it, and it’s hard to imagine this won’t get picked up for a television adaptation.
Tense and compelling, I had no clue where this would end but I was along for the ride!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for my copy. Opinions are my own....more
With the newest Liv Constantine book, THE NEXT MRS PARRISH set to debut this month, it’s the perfect time to do a reread of the iconic book that startWith the newest Liv Constantine book, THE NEXT MRS PARRISH set to debut this month, it’s the perfect time to do a reread of the iconic book that started it all, THE LAST MRS PARRISH. This book made my list of Best Psychological Thrillers—a list I have compiled as go-to reads for anyone newer to reading or the genre who want to get a taste of what it has to offer. The book held up flawlessly on a reread!
Daphne Parrish seems to have it all. She’s beautiful, kind, and has the kind of wealth that keeps her wardrobe stocked with designer duds and on-call nannies for her two daughters. She’s also married to the very handsome and very rich Jackson Parrish. It’s a dream life, and it’s one that Amber Patterson has her sights set on.
Amber came from nothing, but she’s always known she deserved to have it all. Daphne Parrish is her way in. Amber makes her appearance as non-threatening as possible, and relates to Daphne over losing a sister to the same illness (though Amber is lying about the whole thing). Daphne likes Amber and begins to trust her and eventually consider her a friend. As Amber becomes more indispensable to Daphne, she gets closer to taking everything from her. Until a secret from her past threatens to unravel it all…
Amber Patterson is one of the most delightfully hateful narrators in the literary world. She’s conniving, calculating, selfish, and ruthless. The magic of a character like Amber is that while she is completely detestable, there is a small element of fun to her that I couldn’t ignore. I wouldn’t say I rooted for her, but I did love being inside of her twisted mind.
This story is so taut and well-plotted, with reveals timed with expert precision. Liv Constantine is conducting a symphony of chaos and tension that becomes more delightfully twisted as it speeds towards the ending. I am sure I’m not alone in my excitement to see what happened in the wake of this shocking conclusion! ...more
Unapologetically salacious and entertaining, this is the type of thriller that is quite simply fun to read. It’s like peeking behind your neighbor’s dUnapologetically salacious and entertaining, this is the type of thriller that is quite simply fun to read. It’s like peeking behind your neighbor’s doors and seeing what they really get up to! Grab your popcorn for this one!
Plan to suspend some disbelief and also to think that what all of these people are up to is absolutely wrong, and buckle in for the wild and salacious ride Samson takes the reader on. The book centers around two couples and they couldn’t be more different. Elena and Adam live with modest means and have a nice but somewhat routine relationship. Meanwhile Sophia and Finn are rich, glamorous, and charming.
The couples meet when Elena and Adam are housesitting in a posh neighborhood in London. Elena and Sophia meet by chance, and Elena is thrilled when Sophia accepts her social media request. Sophia is glamourous, alluring, and everything Elena wishes she could be.
When the couples meet up, Elena can’t deny her attraction to Finn. Then Sophia proposes a dangerous and thrilling idea—they should switch partners without telling them for an elicit night of fun. When they get away with it, they can’t seem to leave it at just the one time. And slowly, Elena develops an infatuation with Finn. She knows they need to stop, but she can’t give him up.
Elena starts spiraling deeper into her infatuation with Finn, and further away from her previously happy marriage to Adam. Jealousy and mistrust fracture the tenuous balance between the two. Meanwhile Sophia hasn’t shared her ulterior motive for the swap…
This is the type of book that needs a cold beverage, a bowl of popcorn, and a distraction-free evening because you won’t want to put this absolutely juicy thriller down. The arrangement between Elena and Sophia is entirely unhinged, but fun to explore how it plays out in the safety of fictional characters in a book. This is peak entertainment and a fun (if outrageous) story that will have everyone talking.
No one in this book is exactly a hero, but there is still something forgivable about Elena that Sophia doesn’t have. She’s as complicit as Sophia, but Sophia has a lot more going on than she is telling Elena and somehow that made her worse. The swap isn’t the only thing going on in this book—things spiral quickly once they get going and there is so much for you to discover on the journey through this story. The ending was off the rails. I loved it!
Thank you to Viking Books for my copy. Opinions are my own....more
A suspenseful and compelling mystery that is a perfect summer read to sit on the patio and sip an ice cold beverage.
What is The Last Time I Saw Him abA suspenseful and compelling mystery that is a perfect summer read to sit on the patio and sip an ice cold beverage.
What is The Last Time I Saw Him about?
Kiki Reed is in Connecticut for a party to support her friend Ava’s husband’s new book. Six months earlier Kiki ended her engagement to Jamie Larsson. Initially Ava told her Jamie wasn’t coming, saving her from an awkward encounter. But Jamie is at the party and Kiki does her best to stay out of his way, not wanting to bring up old emotions.
The party is winding down when a shot is heard from outside, and Jamie is found dead in his car. The police think it’s a suicide, but Kiki is certain it’s murder. Jamie seemed fine and was actively making plans for the future. Kiki knows he wouldn’t take his own life.
Feeling a responsibility to find out the truth, Kiki rents a house in the area to look for clues that prove to the police it was murder. The more she learns, Kiki realizes that something much more sinister was going on with Jamie, and she may be in danger next...
What did I think?
I love the way Kate White writes. Her scenes are filled with rich details that add a vividness to her stories. Kiki is an interesting character. Normally in this type of book, Kiki would be the one who got broken up with. I this case, she broke it off with her fiancé Jamie because she realizes she had feelings for his best friend, Sam.
This isn’t as salacious as it sounds—Kiki never told Sam (or Jamie) about her feelings, nor did she act on them. Since Sam is also invested in finding out who murdered Jamie, the two spend time together and Kiki is forced to confront her feelings (and see if Sam has any for her).
Though Kiki is the main narrator, there is also an unknown male narrator with short chapters throughout that cranked the tension into high gear. Whomever that narrator is seems to be linked to another murder in the area. Kiki wonders if it is possible the two are related, but initially it doesn’t seem like they are. I enjoyed the way the two storylines unfolded and how they tied to one another.
A perfectly breezy and compelling summer mystery! ...more
Books that explore the aftermath of a loved one who was presumed dead turning up very much alive are an instant buy for me. I can’t imagine how I woulBooks that explore the aftermath of a loved one who was presumed dead turning up very much alive are an instant buy for me. I can’t imagine how I would even feel in this case. Disbelief? Betrayed? Relieved? Angry?
It seemed like an ordinary Monday morning the day that Ariel Cafferty receives an unexpected text from the love of her life whom she thought was dead for five years:
Something’s happened. I need to see you. Meet me under the candelabra tree ASAP.
It’s been several years since she learned Drew died, and now his name is on her phone. How can this be real? When Ariel goes to the tree, no one shows.
The more she looks for answers about the day Drew left her, the more sinister it is. Everything she thought she knew is wrong, and someone is still lying to her. Ariel needs to find the truth, if for no other reason than to protect their son. Will she finally learn what happened to Drew?
The romance story between Drew and Ariel in the past took up too much time in the first half, and detracted from the tension of the central mystery. Once the mystery got going, I loved the twists and turns it took. I enjoyed the book despite thinking it could have been tightened up.
Fans of thrillers with a heaping side of romance will love this book!
Thank you to Harper Books for my copy. Opinions are my own....more
I am flummoxed by how to even review this book or what to rate it. I've been thinking about it since last night and I can't decide if I liked the endiI am flummoxed by how to even review this book or what to rate it. I've been thinking about it since last night and I can't decide if I liked the ending or hated it? I think this probably falls around 3.5 but on the low end of that, so I'm rounding down.
It's a super bingeable book. The premise is fascinating. I loved that the present timeline took place partly at a psychiatric facility on an island. And the ending is definitely a shock!
But at the same time, parts of the book are confusing. I struggled to keep the dual POV straight and couldn't remember which timeline I was in for the first half (save yourself the trouble now and realize that gran is briefly in the hospital in both timelines, unrelated to anything important; this added a lot of confusion for me). The details about Piper and who she was (other than Iris's twin) were vague and confusing.
Iris seems to know that Piper is dead the entire book, but it isn't explained how she knows it until almost the end. This isn't a spoiler because the whole premise is that Piper is dead and Iris is looking to avenge it. I think some of those details about Piper needed to move up earlier in the story. There was no pay off to them being held for so long.
The ending is a wild ride and I'm still trying to decide if I liked it? It's fun and definitely not something I guessed. I think half of it I loved but the other half not so much (perhaps that's the titular good half that is gone?). ...more
JP Delaney’s The Perfect Wife is an innovative, heart-pounding, thought-provoking thriller with a stunner of an ending.
When Abbie Cullen awakens from JP Delaney’s The Perfect Wife is an innovative, heart-pounding, thought-provoking thriller with a stunner of an ending.
When Abbie Cullen awakens from what she thinks was a dream, she realizes that she has no memory of how she ended up in the condition she is in. Abbie has always been human and has no reason to think otherwise, until her husband Tim tells her about an accident 5 years earlier that took her life.
Tim is a true titan of the tech world and had been working for years before Abbie’s death on “cobots”—humanlike machines that are able to bring back the memories and body of a loved one…sort of. And now Tim was able to bring Abbie back the same way, as a cobot. Abbie looks exactly as she did before, and she’s been loaded up with all of Abbie’s memories.
As Abbie tries to understand and adjust to her body and piece together her memories, she begins to notice troubling and conflicting things about her husband…and her former self. Can she trust her husband’s version of events?
Abbie starts to find clues that suggest something isn’t quite right. She begins receiving anonymous text messages on her cell phone. She finds a secret iPad that the original Abbie had hidden away and takes it to a tech shop to see if the data can be recovered. And the more she learns, the more complicated it all gets. What was Abbie up to?
Delaney takes many of the stereotypes about the tech industry and tech genius and flips them around. We see one side of Tim from Abbie, but a different side of Tim from an anonymous employee who shares with the reader about the years leading up to Abbie’s death and the creation of the cobot, including their courtship.
Through the artificial intelligence spin on this story, Delaney makes a bold statement on whether AI modeled after a specific person can ever be considered human. What really differentiates humans from computers? And is it possible for one to ever cross that line into the other?
An engrossing story with a few head-spinning plot twists. I loved the way the story ended and what it made me think about after closing the book. This is a brilliant novel and will appeal to sci-fi and thriller fans alike. Captivating! ...more
Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were brought together as foster children at Wild MeThis must be my favorite Hepworth novel yet!
What is Darling Girls about?
Jessica, Norah, and Alicia were brought together as foster children at Wild Meadows, a foster home owned by a single woman named Miss Fairchild. Unfortunately, Miss Fairchild was an emotionally abusive, malicious, and cruel foster mother. She knew exactly what each girl wanted most, and how to take it from them. After two years with Miss Fairchild, the three managed to break away and flee Wild Meadows.
It’s been 25 years since they freed themselves from Miss Fairchild. But when they learn that a body was discovered buried underneath the house at Wild Meadows, the sisters find themselves at the center of the investigation. The secrets held for 25 years may finally come to light, but will anyone believe them?
What did I think of Darling Girls?
I’ll give the TLDR—I loved it!!! Sally Hepworth has become one of my favorite authors. She crafts compelling plots, writes authentic characters, and is a master storyteller. She spins together stories that I don’t want to leave at the end.
Though the book is narrated by all three sisters, Jessica is directly at the heart of the novel. She was the first to arrive at Miss Fairchild’s home, and Jessica desperately wanted a mother. Miss Fairchild babied her, creating an unhealthy dependency.
When Norah arrives, everything changes. Miss Fairchild is cold and cruel, emotionally abusing and isolating both girls. Jessica responds by trying to be perfect. Norah is much feistier. Alicia arrives last and had a happy childhood. Miss Fairchild sees Alicia as spoiled, and restricts her access to food and comfort. Alicia learns to doubt her own worth.
I found all three sisters to be compelling, flawed, and loveable characters. Norah is the star of the book, with a dry humor that adds levity. At it’s core, this is a book about sisterhood, found family, mental health, abuse, and healing. Don’t expect Hepworth to let these women off the hook just because we love them—Hepworth is unafraid to give her characters authentic storylines, and she does this boldly and without apology.
One of the best books of the year for me, and it may be my favorite of Hepworth’s yet!...more
Meet Jane, a broke dogwalker for the affluent Thornfield Estates. Jane is new to Birmingham and completely broke. Surrounded by McMansions, shiny carsMeet Jane, a broke dogwalker for the affluent Thornfield Estates. Jane is new to Birmingham and completely broke. Surrounded by McMansions, shiny cars, and opulent homes, no one notices the dog walker.
Until she meets the handsome and wealthy Eddie Rochester. In a place like Thornfield Estates where gossip is basically currency, Eddie attracts the most of anyone. Six months ago his beautiful wife Bea and her best friend Blanche died in a boating accident. Their bodies weren’t found, but everyone knows they couldn’t have survived.
Where some may see red flags, Jane sees an opportunity. She needs someone to provide the security she’s looking for, and Eddie seems to be just that person. It’s a whirlwind romance between Eddie and Jane, and it’s not long before he invites her to move into his mansion.
But Jane can’t stop her curiosity about his late wife, Bea. The owner of a southern lifestyle brand, Bea was beautiful, polished, and elegant—things Jane is not. No one knows who Jane really is, not even Eddie. And she won’t let them find out—she’ll do anything to protect her secrets. But it seems Eddie may have secrets in his past as well...
Review
Whatever you expect from this book, think again. Surprising, jaw-dropping, delightfully salacious, and darkly humorous—Jane is an absolutely wild and hilarious character. Her moral compass doesn’t exactly point due north, but there is still something sympathetic about Jane. The problem is, Jane isn’t the most reliable narrator. She has a lot of secrets, starting with the fact that her name isn’t really Jane.
Jane may be obsessed with the mysterious figure of Bea, but so was I. The more I learned about Bea, the more fascinating she was. Bea is successful, beautiful, and aspirational. Her taste is exquisite, as evidenced by her successful lifestyle brand, Southern Manors. But that’s not the full story about Bea.
If you haven’t read the original book, Jane Eyre, you were likely still able to ascertain from the title of this book where Bea is and what may have happened to her after that boating accident. I won’t spoil the details, but I will say that you will get to hear from Bea and her back story will shock you.
This was the second time I read this and it was as twisty as I remembered, but I forgot how funny and devious this version of Jane is! Plain Jane in looks, but certainly not inside. Jane is one of those characters who people underestimate, but she has plenty of tricks up her sleeve, and maybe your bracelet too—underestimate her at your own peril!...more
Mackenzie - PhDiva Books
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psychological-thriller
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