I highly recommend Hour of the Witch to fans of Bohjahlian and lovers of historical fiction.
The Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian, 4 Stars
The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon, 5 Stars
Janelle Brown, author of Pretty Things and Watch Me Disappear had the perfect testimonial for the book saying, "The Drowning Kind is satisfying on every level: Marvelously chilling, elegantly written, a true page-turner. I couldn’t wait to get to the end; I also wanted to savor every page. Jennifer McMahon is a master of mood.”
You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes, 4.5 Stars
You Love Me is everything I wanted it to be. Joe isn't the same guy who used to stalk Beck through the windows of her NYC apartment. He's matured. I think he might not be as much of a psycho. Well, scratch that.
The Girls Are All So Nice Here by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, 3.5 Stars
When Ambrosia arrives at her freshman year of college, she has a chip on her shoulder. Like the size of Antarctica.
The Project by Courtney Summers, 4 Stars
The Project is a great read, you definitely won't regret picking this one up. Yes, it's technically YA, but it's one of the YA books with amazing crossover adult potential.
The Burning Girls, by C.J. Tudor, 5 Stars
C.J. Tudor is a bit macabre and her books just feel different than your average thriller. Her books are a little bit gory, a little bit spooky, the tiniest bit shocking and super readable.
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, 5 Stars
The Four Winds is a richly drawn work of historical fiction that transports the reader to that moment in history. Hannah does this in a way not many authors can master and it's breathtaking.
The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous, 4 Stars
Really, if we had to choose just one main character in this book, it might not be Sadie or Beth (or even Leonora), but rather Raven Hall. Because people who have lived there, are somehow legit, obsessed with it.
Influence by Sara Shepard and Lilia Buckingham, 3.5 Stars
Buckingham and Shepard have created some colorful characters that remind me a lot of the real-life (or were they?) shenanigans on Laguna Beach.
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins, 3.5 Stars
Jane is kind of an enigma. She comes from a troubled past, and she is clearly trying to improve her life.
Take It Back by Kia Abdullah, 4 Stars
Not only was it a page turner, but it makes you think.
Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane, 3 Stars
In Pretty Little Wife, the reader gets a front row seat to the relentless interrogations and everything that Lila is up to in the days following her husbands, ahem, disappearance.
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam, 5 Stars
Yes, Leave the World Behind, is the crowning novel that fits in so well in 2020, it's a little scary.
The Last to See Her by Courtney Evan Tate, 3.5 Stars
The Last to See Her is a wild ride that is part mystery, part thriller, part romance, part story of betrayal and part sister story. Which sounds like it could be too much. But it's actually just the perfect amount.
Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates, 4.5 Stars
Perfect for curling up with under a blanket on a dark and stormy night.
White Ivy by Susie Yang, 4.5 Stars
What does an ivy do? It clings to wood or stone, hiding the ruins of what it feeds upon.
Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger, 4 Stars
Two strangers swapping stories they would never tell most people they know. Strangers taking advantage of anonymity. Or so Selena thought.
Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman, 5 Stars
Hoffman takes us all the way back to the 1600's where we meet Maria Owens, the matriarch of The Owen's Family featured in The Rules of Magic and the Practical Magic Series.
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult, 4 Stars
There is no arguing that Jodi Picoult is one of the greatest writers of our time. I mean, can you argue that?
Don’t Look for Me by Wendy Walker, 4 Stars
Stories of missing people are so horrifying, but we are still able to hang on to the tiniest glimmer of hope that things could go back to the way they were before.
The Last Story of Mina Lee, by Nancy Jooyoun Kim, 4 Stars
Mina Lee, the fictional star of The Last Story of Mina Lee. She is fictional, but feels so real I think I've seen her in a small swap meet shop sometime in my past. #netgalley #thelaststoryofminalee
Three Perfect Liars by Heidi Perks, 4 Stars
I really enjoyed Three Perfect Liars. I totally identified with the characters and their struggles and enjoyed the well-place twists and turns.
We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin, 4 Stars
Heaberlin has written some strong female characters who are running from something but still have strength to stand up for what is important no matter the cost, and no matter what anyone thinks.
Behind the Red Door by Megan Collins, 5 Stars
I didn't just read this book, I fed on it and consumed it. Which sounds super disturbing. But it was so good.
When I Was You, by Amber Garza, 4 Stars
It definitely brings You to mind, minus adorable Joe (is it unhealthy to think a serial killer is cute?).
What You Wish For by Katherine Center, 4 Stars
But What You Wish For was charming, nostalgic and just a good light read. #netgalley #whatyouwishfor
The Golden Cage by Camilla Lackberg, 3 Stars
I know some men hide their true nature well, but for the most part, if you are a smart, sensible woman with good instincts, you can smell them coming from a mile away.
Perfectly Famous, Elizabeth Liebert, 2.5 Stars
Ward is a famous author, who was interrupted at a book event for her most recent release, by the news that her daughter has gone missing.
The Second Home by Christina Clancy, 4 stars
The Second Home is the perfect book to pick-up for your non-existent vacation this summer. So pull up a lawn chair by the baby pool in your backyard, pour yourself some ice tea and escape to Cape Cod!
Necessary People by Anna Pitoniak, 4 Stars
Stella is the absolute worst. Think Valerie from 90210 or Regina George from Mean Girls, or Heather Chandler from, well, Heathers. And she is totally Peach Salinger from You. #necessarypeople @annapitoniak
Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner, 3.5 Stars
I still adore Jennifer Weiner. This one just wasn't my favorite. And that's okay.
Pretty Things by Janelle Brown, 4 Stars
When her mom gets sick, Nina returns home to help. And it isn't long before she finds herself engulfed in her mother's con world with her ruggedly handsome friend, Lachlan.
Too Good to Be True by Carola Lovering, 4 Stars
I'd recommend Too Good to Be True to fans of Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendrick's collaborations, and Lisa Jewell fans.
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James, 5 Stars
This book is the real deal. It's so spooky you won't want to read it in a dark room, but it's so good that you keep reading it in that dark room because you NEED to know what happens!
Dead to Her by Sarah Pinborough, 3 stars
Marcie and Keisha have something in common in the upper-class world of Savannah. Among the old money and high society, they stand out.
Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison, 3.5 Stars
Ellison spins a great tale full of the mystery and dark past of a girl's private school and creates multi-dimensional characters who are hiding things from each other and the reader.
The Wives by Tarryn Fisher, 3.5 Stars
Imagine if you had a husband. And he had two other wives, except you knew nothing about them.
Anything for You by Saul Black, 3.5 Stars
Once I was invested in the characters, things really started to get interesting for me and the pages started turning faster and faster.
The Stranger Inside by Lisa Unger, 4 Stars
This book was good. Like cancel your Saturday night plans, pour a big glass of red wine and dig in type of good.
The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal, 3 Stars
This story definitely feels a bit dark, gothic, and the tone harkens to Dicken's books or Madame Bovary
After the End by Clare Mackintosh, 5 Stars
After the End. It has ALL the feels. Perfect for any masochist looking for a good summer read.
Man of the Year by Caroline Lewis Walker, 3.5 Stars
Walker really gets inside the head of Dr. Hart, showcasing both his narcissim and deep insecurities all the same time.
Me for You by Lolly Winston, 3.5 Stars
Grief is hard to live with, but it's also a huge part of living.
The Woman Inside by E.G. Scott, 3.5 Stars
This one got great reviews, Entertainment Weekly ran an incredible review, and this one is even slated to become a TV series with the same production company that made Sharp Objects, my latest obsession.
You Don’t Own Me by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke, 4 Stars
Reading a Mary Higgins Clark book is like slipping into an old, worn sweater.
Watching You by Lisa Jewell, 4 Stars
Watching You is a quick read, mostly because you won't be able to stop turning the pages furiously, with lots of satisfying twists and turns.
The Serial Killer’s Wife by Alice Hunter, 4 Stars
The Serial Killer's Wife is a fast-paced, surprisingly kind of light, book that I really enjoyed.
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica, 5 Stars
Kubica is a master at writing engrossing domestic thrillers. On one hand, the story is shocking, but on the other, it could be something that happened to your neighbors, or a family down the street.
Madam by Phoebe Wynn, 3 Stars
When Rose gets a job offer to teach at an exclusive private school in Scotland, it seems like the perfect opportunity....
Girl 11 by Amy Suiter Clark, 5 Stars
Girl 11 is chicken soup for the true crime lover's soul and you must check it out.
Just My Luck by Adele Parks, 4 Stars (Review + Bonus Excerpt)
Just My Luck is a story that looks into how ugly money can be.
Her Dark Lies, by J.T. Ellison, 4 Stars (Review + Bonus Excerpt)
Her Dark Lies is a an amazing atmospheric mystery with enough going on to keep the pages turning long past bedtime. This one is a must read.
When a Stranger Comes to Town, edited by Michael Koyrta, 4 Stars
When a Stranger Comes to Town is a must-read to keep on your nightstand for those evenings when you only have 15 minutes until you are ready to drift off to sleep.
