Summer Reads: Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner (Audiobook)

Big Summer
by Jennifer Weiner
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Publication Date: May 5th 2020
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 368
ISBN: 9781501133510
Genre: Womens Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery

Audio Narrated By: Danielle Macdonald
Audiobook Length: 10hr 54min
Audio ISBN: 9781797108407
Source: Scribd

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The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the “nothing short of brilliant” (People) Mrs. Everything returns with an unforgettable novel about friendship and forgiveness set during a disastrous wedding on picturesque Cape Cod.

Six years after the fight that ended their friendship, Daphne Berg is shocked when Drue Cavanaugh walks back into her life, looking as lovely and successful as ever, with a massive favor to ask. Daphne hasn’t spoken one word to Drue in all this time—she doesn’t even hate-follow her ex-best friend on social media—so when Drue asks if she will be her maid-of-honor at the society wedding of the summer, Daphne is rightfully speechless.

Drue was always the one who had everything—except the ability to hold onto friends. Meanwhile, Daphne’s no longer the same self-effacing sidekick she was back in high school. She’s built a life that she loves, including a growing career as a plus-size Instagram influencer. Letting glamorous, seductive Drue back into her life is risky, but it comes with an invitation to spend a weekend in a waterfront Cape Cod mansion. When Drue begs and pleads and dangles the prospect of cute single guys, Daphne finds herself powerless as ever to resist her friend’s siren song.

A sparkling novel about the complexities of female friendship, the pitfalls of living out loud and online, and the resilience of the human heart, Big Summer is a witty, moving story about family, friendship, and figuring out what matters most. (Goodreads)

Big Summer is the very first book I have ever read by Jennifer Weiner, (though I have had quite a few of her books on my tbr for the longest), and I’m so thrilled to have finally read something by her! This was just the quick read that I didn’t know I needed to get out of my own head for a while.

Let me get this started by saying that Big Summer was not at all what I expected. I went into this book expecting a fun, summer wedding read set at the beach. I totally did not expect the mystery part of the story, and that said mystery that would have me completely hooked. But it did, and I was!

There were a lot of things that I liked about the book. The characters were definitely interesting, even when I thought they all were a suspect. The main character, Daphne, is an Instagram Influencer, but she could definitely get a side gig as a private investigator because she was determined to figure out what happened. She also has really great parents. (I LOVE when there are great parents in a story!)

The setting for the story jumps around a lot, and while I was basically just here for the beach parts, I did enjoy reading about all the other places as well. The storyline for the book was definitely interesting. It was a little slow in a few places, mostly during the backstory parts, but the fast parts definitely made up for that.

Also, I opted to listen to the audio version of this book, and Danielle Macdonald did a fantastic job of narrating the story! I really enjoyed her voices for each of the characters, and she did a great job with the pacing of the story.

Overall; Big Summer may have been my very first read by Jennifer Weiner, but it definitely won’t be my last! I am very much looking forward to reading more books by her soon, and I do think Mrs. Everything will be my next pick. (I’m so excited!) If you’re looking for a fun summer read, do is a great book to add to your list.

My Thoughts: The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

The Turn of the Key
by Ruth Ware
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Publication Date: August 6th 2019
Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9781501188770
Genre: Adult Fiction | Mystery | Thriller
Source: Edelweiss Review Copy

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When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare—one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder.

Writing to her lawyer from prison, she struggles to explain the unravelling events that led to her incarceration. It wasn’t just the constant surveillance from the cameras installed around the house, or the malfunctioning technology that woke the household with booming music, or turned the lights off at the worst possible time. It wasn’t just the girls, who turned out to be a far cry from the immaculately behaved model children she met at her interview. It wasn’t even the way she was left alone for weeks at a time, with no adults around apart from the enigmatic handyman, Jack Grant.

It was everything.

She knows she’s made mistakes. She admits that she lied to obtain the post, and that her behavior toward the children wasn’t always ideal. She’s not innocent, by any means. But, she maintains, she’s not guilty—at least not of murder. Which means someone else is. (Goodreads)

The Turn of the Key is the fifth book that I’ve read by Ruth Ware, and I have to tell you, her books get better and better the more I read them! Ruth has definitely become an auto-read author for me, and I can always count on her when I want a fast paced, creepy read. This book definitely fit the bill, and I really enjoyed reading it!

The Turn of the Key was a really interesting read. It felt both modern, (with the smart house), but also a little classic as well, (with the setting). Both gave off a creepy vibe, which was interesting, as I didn’t expect a smart house to be quite so creepy. (I was definitely giving my Google Home the stink eye while reading this book!) The was a little slow at times, but the twists and turns in the story make up for that time. (Especially the one big twist that I totally didn’t see coming!)      

The book also had some really interesting characters, including the main character, Rowen, who answers the add to become the nanny and live in the creepy smart house. Rowan’s story is told in a series of letters that she writes to her attorney from jail, (this is not a spoiler, it’s literally in the summary), and the more you read her story, the more you start to question everything she reads. I love that she kept me guessing on what the heck happened to land her in jail!

I also want to add that I opted to listen to this book in audio format, and I’m so glad I did. The story is narrated by Imogen Church, who has narrated ALL of Ruth’s books, and I very much enjoyed her familiar voice, and the voices she made for each of the characters. She did a wonderful job of reading the story to me!

Overall; The Turn of the Key was a very interesting read, and I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to read it! Though, I’m kind of bummed that I have to wait, once again, for info on Ruth’s next book, but I imagine that it will also be worth the wait. If you’re looking for a creepy read to add to your upcoming Halloween TBR, or just to your regular TBR, do check out The Turn of the Key!

My Thoughts: The Last Time I Saw You by Liv Constantine

The Last Time I Saw You
by Liv Constantine
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Publication Date: May 7th 2019
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780062868817
Genre: Adult Fiction | Mystery | Thriller
Source: Edelweiss Review Copy

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The internationally bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish follows that success with an addictive novel filled with shocking twists about the aftermath of a brutal high-society murder.

Dr. Kate English has it all. Not only is she the heiress to a large fortune; she has a gorgeous husband and daughter, a high-flying career, and a beautiful home anyone would envy.

But all that changes the night Kate’s mother, Lily, is found dead, brutally murdered in her own home. Heartbroken and distraught, Kate reaches out to her estranged best friend, Blaire Barrington, who rushes to her side for the funeral, where the years of distance between them are forgotten in a moment.

That evening, Kate’s grief turns to horror when she receives an anonymous text: You think you’re sad now, just wait. By the time I’m finished with you, you’ll wish you had been buried today. More than ever, Kate needs her old friend’s help.

Once Blaire decides to take the investigation into her own hands, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems in Baltimore high society. As infidelity, lies, and betrayals come to light, and tensions rise to a boiling point, she begins to alienate Kate’s friends and relatives with her relentless, accusatory questions, as she tries to find Lily’s killer. The murderer could be anyone—friend, neighbor, loved one. But whoever it is, it’s clear that Kate is next on their list. . .

In The Last Time I Saw You, Liv Constantine takes the lightning pace of The Last Mrs. Parrish and raises the stakes, creating an exquisitely tension-filled and absorbing tale of psychological suspense in which innocent lives—and one woman’s sanity—hang in the balance. (Goodreads)

The Last Time I Saw You is the very first book that I’ve read by Liv Constantine, though I have had The Last Mrs. Parrish sitting on my shelf for the longest. I’m beyond thrilled to have finally read something by these two authors, and now I’m even more excited to read more!

To be honest, I didn’t really know what to expect when going into this book. I am not a huge reader of murder mystery stories, but I’ve read more and more of the genre lately, and it’s quickly becoming a favorite genre for me!

One of the things that I really liked about this book is that it kept me guessing. A lot of times I can figure out a story pretty early on, but with this one I did not! The book was full of twists and turns, and just when I thought the story was going one way, it took a 180 and went a completely different way. I love that it kept me hooked as I flew through the pages. I read this book very quickly, as I just needed to know what the heck was going on! The last few chapters of the book caught me completely by surprise, and I really enjoyed all the interesting twists along the way!

This book also has an interesting cast of characters, and I totally thought almost all of them were suspects. (I am naturally suspicious of most people, and I trust very few, but that’s not the only reason I thought this.) So many of the characters could have been the bad guy, and none of them were even close to being perfect. I did find myself relating to the main character more than a few times throughout the story, and I probably would have handled the situation the same way she did in the story. Ha!

Overall; The Last Time I Saw You was a fascinating read that was full of interesting characters and kept me guessing the whole story through. I’m definitely even more excited now to check out The Last Mrs. Parrish, and even more books by Liv Constantine in the future. If you do check out this book, I hope it keeps you guessing all along the way as well!

My Thoughts: Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen McManus

Two Can Keep a Secret
by Karen M. McManus
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Publication Date: January 8th 2019
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9781524714727
Genre: Young Adult | Mystery | Thriller
Source: Own

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Echo Ridge is small-town America. Ellery's never been there, but she's heard all about it. Her aunt went missing there at age seventeen. And only five years ago, a homecoming queen put the town on the map when she was killed. Now Ellery has to move there to live with a grandmother she barely knows.

The town is picture-perfect, but it's hiding secrets. And before school even begins for Ellery, someone's declared open season on homecoming, promising to make it as dangerous as it was five years ago. Then, almost as if to prove it, another girl goes missing.

Ellery knows all about secrets. Her mother has them; her grandmother does too. And the longer she's in Echo Ridge, the clearer it becomes that everyone there is hiding something. The thing is, secrets are dangerous--and most people aren't good at keeping them. Which is why in Echo Ridge, it's safest to keep your secrets to yourself. (Goodreads)

Two Can Keep A Secret by Karen McManus was another of my most anticipated reads for January 2019, and I absolutely couldn’t wait to get started on it. I read One of Us is Lying back when it was first released in 2017, and I REALLY loved that story, and I was super curious to see how this new book would compare. I really enjoyed the story!

One of the things I loved most about One of Us is Lying was that the book totally kept me guessing. Like, seriously guessing, and that’s not very easy to do often, it seems. So I was definitely expecting the same from this new book. And while Two Can Keep a Secret also keep me guessing, I also guessed at the plot very early on, (and was right). That’s probably because I am naturally suspicious of EVERYONE. Haha! But that didn’t make me like the story any less. I actually loved the book, but in a different way than I did the her first book, if that makes any sense at all.

That being said, the storyline for the book was very much addictive, and I flew through the pages as quickly as I could to find out what was going to happen next. I really enjoyed the setting for the story as well, especially the small town feel of Echo Rock, and the Halloween/murder themed theme park, though you’d NEVER catch me going there in this lifetime. (And that’s because I am a BIG chicken!) But, it definitely gave the story a good creepy vibe, and I loved that.

There were SO many interesting characters in this book as well, and I enjoyed getting to know them as the story went along. A few of them managed to surprise me quite a bit, and, as I mentioned above, a few kept me guessing as well, which I loved. The story is told in alternating viewpoints, between the two main characters, Ellery and Malcom, and I found both of their stories to be completely fascinating. (Also, I LOVE when we get alternating viewpoints. I feel we get SO much more of the story this way!) And, this book has a lot of great secondary characters as well.

Overall; I really enjoyed reading Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen McManus! I think fans of her first book will really enjoy this second book, and if you’ve not yet checked out either of these books, I highly recommend that you do so! They are so good, and I hope that you’ll enjoy them just as much as I did.

My Thoughts: An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

An Anonymous Girl
by Greer Hendricks
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& Sarah Pekkanen
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Publication Date: January 8th 2019
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Pages: 375
ISBN: 9781250133731
Genre: Adult Fiction | Mystery | Thriller
Source: Netgalley Review Copy

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The next novel of psychological suspense and obsession from the authors of the blockbuster bestseller The Wife Between Us.

Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.

When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave.

Question #1: Could you tell a lie without feeling guilt?

But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking… and what she’s hiding.

Question #2: Have you ever deeply hurt someone you care about?

As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.

Question #3: Should a punishment always fit the crime?

From the authors of the blockbuster bestseller The Wife Between Us comes an electrifying new novel about doubt, passion, and just how much you can trust someone. (Goodreads)

The moment I first discovered An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen, I knew I HAD to read the book. I read their first collaboration, The Wife Between Us, last year and enjoyed the story SO much, and I was so curious to see what new story would come in this new book. I have to say, these two authors really know how to write, and this book had me HOOKED!

Let me start this by saying that I LOVE a good book that keeps me guessing. Since I read so much, I often times manage to figure out a plot very early on in a book, which can get old after a while. That did not happen with this book. It totally kept me guessing as I flew through the pages, and I was suspicious of every single character along the way. Not enough books keep me guessing, and I love when one actually does!

An Anonymous Girl is full of interesting characters, including the main character, Jess. I found myself relating to Jess more than a few times throughout the story, as I, too, sometimes feel like just another anonymous girl. I definitely felt the same paranoia that she experienced as the story went along, though had I been put in her shoes, I would not have handled things nearly as well. Dr. Shields was such mystery, I never knew what to expect from her, and she definitely freaked me out more than a few times as the story went along. This book is full of completely fascinating characters, and everyone was a suspect.

The storyline for this book was absolutely addictive. It was intense and mysterious, and kept me on the edge of my seat as I flew through the pages. Did I mention already that I love a book that will keep me guessing?? I do. And this book totally did that. I found myself wondering what in the world was going on in the story, and what was going to happen next. So many secrets. So much mystery. Ah, I loved it!

Overall; I do believe that Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen have yet another hit on their hands with An Anonymous Girl! I very much enjoyed this story, and I really, really hope that these authors continue to write more books together in the future. If you’re looking for a good mystery thriller to read, do check out An Anonymous Girl, and The Wife Between Us as well! Both books are really great.

My Thoughts: Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand (Audiobook)

Winter in Paradise
(Paradise #1)
by Elin Hilderbrand
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Publication Date: October 9th 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780316435512
Genre: Adult Fiction | Contemporary | Mystery
Source: Netgalley Review Copy

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A husband's secret life, a wife's new beginning: escape to the Caribbean with New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand.

Irene Steele shares her idyllic life in a beautiful Iowa City Victorian house with a husband who loves her to sky-writing, sentimental extremes. But as she rings in the new year one cold and snowy night, everything she thought she knew falls to pieces with a shocking phone call: her beloved husband, away on business, has been killed in a plane crash. Before Irene can even process the news, she must first confront the perplexing details of her husband's death on the distant Caribbean island of St. John.

After Irene and her sons arrive at this faraway paradise, they make yet another shocking discovery: her husband had been living a secret life. As Irene untangles a web of intrigue and deceit, and as she and her sons find themselves drawn into the vibrant island culture, they have to face the truth about their family, and about their own futures.

Rich with the lush beauty of the tropics and the drama, romance, and intrigue only Elin Hilderbrand can deliver, Winter in Paradise is a truly transporting novel, and the exciting start to a new series. (Goodreads)

Winter in Paradise is only the second book that I’ve read so far by Elin Hilderbrand, (the first was The Perfect Couple, which I really enjoyed), and I am finding myself wanting to read her stories more and more! Though I have a few of Elin’s books sitting on my shelf waiting to be read, this new book seemed to be calling to me, so I decided to read it asap. I’m so glad that I did!

Winter in Paradise is the first book in Elin’s new Paradise series, and I have to say this series is off to a great start! To be honest, I did not realize that this was the first book of the series until I was nearing the last few chapters and I realized that things were not wrapping up the way that I was expecting them to. I was so engrossed in the story that I didn’t realize how quickly the end came along. Once I realize that this was going to be a series, I was pretty happy, as I have SO many questions that were left unanswered! I am really looking forward to getting my hands on the next book in the series.

The book has an interesting group of characters, (a few that I found really relatable), and a great setting as well. Reading this book made me want to be at the beach, and visit St. John Island, which sounds like a really awesome place. The details were great, and I love it when a book makes me want to visit somewhere!

Though I had an e-ARC of this book, I discovered that there was an audiobook version of the story, and I opted to listen to that instead. I’m so glad I did! Erin Bennett did a great job of narrating the book, and often times had me so hooked to the story that I had to stop what I was doing to listen along.

Overall; Winter in Paradise is an excellent start to the new Paradise series by Elin Hilderbrand! The book has interesting characters and an engrossing storyline, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book so I can see what’s going to happen next. I have not found any information on the next book yet, but I will definitely be keeping my eyes out for it, but in the meantime I have a stack of Elin’s previous books sitting on my shelf just waiting to be read, and I can't wait to dive into them. If you’re looking for a great beach read to check out during the upcoming cold months that are ahead of us, do check out Winter in Paradise!!

My Thoughts: Broken Things by Lauren Oliver

Broken Things
by Lauren Oliver
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Publication Date: October 2nd 2018
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9780062224132
Genre: Young Adult | Mystery | Fantasy
Source: Edelweiss Review Copy

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It’s been five years since Summer Marks was brutally murdered in the woods.

Everyone thinks Mia and Brynn killed their best friend. That driven by their obsession with a novel called The Way into Lovelorn the three girls had imagined themselves into the magical world where their fantasies became twisted, even deadly.

The only thing is: they didn’t do it.

On the anniversary of Summer’s death, a seemingly insignificant discovery resurrects the mystery and pulls Mia and Brynn back together once again. But as the lines begin to blur between past and present and fiction and reality, the girls must confront what really happened in the woods all those years ago—no matter how monstrous. (Goodreads)

Lauren Oliver is one of the very first authors I checked out when I started reading YA books, and I’m always on the lookout for something new by her. The summary for her newest book, Broken Things, sounded really awesome, and I absolutely couldn’t wait to check it out!

I was immediately drawn to Broken Things not only because it was written by Lauren Oliver, but also by that super eye-catching cover. How gorgeous is that?? The summary sounded really awesome as well. It’s been a few books since I’ve read a good murder mystery, and this book was exactly what I needed at the moment.

The storyline for the book was very mysterious, and while I guessed what happened pretty early in the book, the book still made me doubt myself more than a few times throughout. And I love that while this was a mystery story, there was also a fit of fantasy in it as well, from the book the girls were so addicted to. That was really interesting, and one reason why I flew through the pages! The end of the book felt a little bit rushed, but other than that, it was really fascinating.

The other interesting thing in the book was the characters. I immediately liked Brynn and Mia, and sympathized for all that they had been through since the death of their friend. And not only after their friend died, but before as well. There were some things that were super easy to relate to in the story. I also liked Abby, who happens to be Mia’s best friend, who was probably my most favorite character in the book. I really enjoyed her storyline, and wish she had been in the book a bit more. Also, there’s a bit of romance in the book as well for a few of these characters, but I’ll say no more on that subject!

Overall; Broken Things was a quick, mysterious read that will keep you guessing as you turn the pages. The storyline was fascinating and addictive, and the characters were interesting as well, and it all made for a really nice read! I definitely feel to the need to re-read more of Lauren’s books now that I’ve read this one, and I just realized that I have not yet read Vanishing Girls, so I must do that soon! Do check out Broken Things!

My Thoughts: The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
by Stuart Turton
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Publication Date: September 18th 2018
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Pages: 512
ISBN: 9781492657965
Genre: Adult Fiction | Mystery | Thriller
Source: Netgalley

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How do you stop a murder that’s already happened?

At a gala party thrown by her parents, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed—again. She's been murdered hundreds of times, and each day, Aiden Bishop is too late to save her. Doomed to repeat the same day over and over, Aiden's only escape is to solve Evelyn Hardcastle's murder and conquer the shadows of an enemy he struggles to even comprehend—but nothing and no one is quite what they seem.

Deeply atmospheric and ingeniously plotted, The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a highly original debut that will appeal to fans of Kate Atkinson and Agatha Christie. (Goodreads)

I totally admit that the first thing that drew me to The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was that bold, captivating book cover, as well as the intriguing book title. I was instantly curious! One of my goals for this year was to step out of the box and try reading new stuff, and I’m all about mystery novels at the moment, so this book sounded right up my alley. It was definitely worth the read!!

Imagine having seven days to solve a murder that has already happened, and each day you wake up in a new host’s body, where you have to figure out what exactly happened from each person’s perspective. It’s a vicious reoccurring cycle of events, and the only way you can finally get free is to solve the murder by the end of the last day, or the cycle starts over again. That, dear bookworms, is the mysterious, addictive story you get with The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.

Let me start by saying that I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this before. The story was completely engrossing, and kept me guessing as I flew through the pages. It actually took me a while to catch on to the fact that there were different hosts in the story, but once I figured it out, I found it to be completely fascinating! Seeing the same story happen from so many different viewpoints, and for each person to be so completely different from one another, well... it was interesting! Also, the setting for the book was perfection, and fit the storyline perfectly. The storyline was full of twists and turns that totally kept me guessing as I flew through the pages. I didn’t know what to expect by the end of the book, but everything came together rather nicely, which made for a really great read!!

Overall; The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was just the thing I needed to read at the moment, and I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to read it! I will most definitely be keeping my eye out for more books by Stuart Turton in the future, as I would absolutely love to read more of his work as well. If you like a mysterious read that keeps you guessing, do check out The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle!!

My Thoughts: The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

The Death of Mrs. Westaway
by Ruth Ware
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Publication Date: May 29th 2018
Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press
Pages: 368
ISBN: 9781501156212
Genre: Adult Fiction | Mystery | Thriller
Source: Edelweiss

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On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person—but also that the cold-reading skills she’s honed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money.

Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased…where it dawns on her that there is something very, very wrong about this strange situation and the inheritance at the centre of it. (Goodreads)

The Death of Mrs. Westaway is the fourth book that I’ve read by the talented Ruth Ware, and to be honest, I absolutely couldn’t wait to dive into this story! I had previously enjoyed The Woman in Cabin 10, In a Dark, Dark Wood, and The Lying Game, all written by Ware, and I was really curious to see how this new book would compare. I never had any doubts when starting the book, as I knew I would love it, and I totally did!!

There were a lot of things that drew me to this book, including the awesome cover, and, of course, the awesome author. I’ve yet to be disappointed by one of Ruth’s books, and I absolutely couldn’t wait to dive into this new story to see what work she had created. The setting for the book was dark and dreary, and it definitely had the creep factor going on, which was awesome. It definitely fit perfectly with the storyline, which was also a bit dark. I love that there were quite a few twists and turns through the book that kept me guessing, and I was definitely surprised by the ending. Add in some pretty interesting characters, including the main character, Hal, and the mysterious Westaway family, and you have the makings of a really great book. (Which is exactly what this was.)

Overall; Fans of Ruth Ware’s books, or of any mystery or thriller books in general, you definitely want to have The Death of Mrs. Westaway on your reading list! This book will give you all the major creep factors, and will keep you guessing all the way up to the end. Definitely check it out! And if you’ve not yet had the pleasure of reading any of Ware’s previous books, you will most definitely want to check those out as well!

My Thoughts: #MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil

#MurderTrending
by Gretchen McNeil
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Publication Date: August 7th 2018
Publisher: Freeform Books
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9781368010023
Genre: Young Adult | Mystery | Thriller
Source: Review Copy

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WELCOME TO THE NEAR FUTURE, where good and honest 8/18 citizens can enjoy watching the executions of society’s most infamous convicted felons, streaming live on The Postman app from the suburbanized prison island Alcatraz 2.0.

When eighteen-year-old Dee Guerrera wakes up in a haze, lying on the ground of a dimly lit warehouse, she realizes she’s about to be the next victim of the app. Knowing hardened criminals are getting a taste of their own medicine in this place is one thing, but Dee refuses to roll over and die for a heinous crime she didn’t commit. Can Dee and her newly formed posse, the Death Row Breakfast Club, prove she’s innocent before she ends up wrongfully murdered for the world to see? Or will The Postman’s cast of executioners kill them off one by one? (Goodreads)

When I first discovered #MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil, I was intrigued! To be honest, I’m kind of a big chicken when it comes to scary stories, and because of that, I was a little weary about starting this book. But, I was more curious than I was weary, so I decided to check it out anyways, and I’m SO glad I did!!

Let me first say that #MurderTrending has a very interesting storyline. Imagine a twisted reality tv show where you can watch the executions of convicted felons live on a streaming app from a prison island called Alcatraz 2.0. That’s not exactly something I would be into in real life, but it did make for an addictive read! I also liked that while this was obviously fiction, it included SO MUCH that’s relatable to the world today, like the reality star president and government that seemed too similar to our current government. I have to say, it would be awesome if the last chapter of the book would happen in real life. *grin* Just sayin’.

#MurderTrending is full of interesting characters as well, including the main character, Dee, who finds herself right in the middle of Alcatraz 2.0 after being wrongly convicted of a crime that she didn’t commit. Dee has a really interesting backstory, one that is actually quite terrifying, and I can’t even imagine being in her shoes in this story. The things this girls has gone through in the past, and then goes through on the island, are pretty insane. But at least she has the help of some other fascinating characters on the island, while trying not to get killed by some terrifying psychos in the process.

Overall; If you like a good thriller story, #MurderTrending may just be right up your alley! This book was definitely an addictive and quick read. I think it’s a standalone book, but the ending was definitely written in a way were the could totally be a sequel, so I'm curious to know if there’s going to be a second book in the future. If so, I will totally check it out! Fans of Gretchen McNeil, or fans of thrillers in general, do add #MurderTrending to your TBR now!

My Thoughts: Bone Music by Christopher Rice

Bone Music
(Burning Girl #1)
by Christopher Rice
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Publication Date: March 1st 2018
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (Amazon Publishing)
Pages: 464
ISBN: 9781542048309
Genre: Fiction | Thriller | Mystery
Source: For Review

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There’s more than one way to stoke the flames of revenge…

Charlotte Rowe spent the first seven years of her life in the hands of the only parents she knew—a pair of serial killers who murdered her mother and tried to shape Charlotte in their own twisted image. If only the nightmare had ended when she was rescued. Instead, her real father exploited her tabloid-ready story for fame and profit—until Charlotte finally broke free from her ghoulish past and fled. Just when she thinks she has buried her personal hell forever, Charlotte is swept into a frightening new ordeal. Secretly dosed with an experimental drug, she’s endowed with a shocking new power—but pursued by a treacherous corporation desperate to control her.

Except from now on, if anybody is going to control Charlotte, it’s going to be Charlotte herself. She’s determined to use the extraordinary ability she now possesses to fight the kind of evil that shattered her life—by drawing a serial killer out from the shadows to face the righteous fury of a victim turned avenger. (Goodreads)

I have to admit, when I was first introduced to Bone Music by Christopher Rice, I was a little weary. I am not exactly a very big fan of mystery thrillers, mostly because I'm a big chicken and they tend to freak me out. However, I decided to give this book a shot, mostly because I have seen the book around a lot lately, and also it sounded really interesting as well! I'm so glad I did! I really enjoyed this book.

The storyline for Bone Music starts out as a mystery thriller, which made me a little nervous because, as I mentioned above, I'm a big ol' chicken when it comes to scary stuff. But, I went ahead and started reading it anyways, and by the second chapter, I was hooked. The more I read of the book, the more I enjoyed it. Though this book is listed as a thriller, it also as a bit of a sci-fi twist to it as well, and that really made the story even more interesting for me. I don't want to go into too many more details about the storyline, as I don't want to spoil it for you, so if you want to know more, check out the book!

Bone Music also has a really interesting cast of characters as well, including the main character, Charlotte, who was kidnapped, then raised, by two serial killers who murdered her mother when she was a baby. That's not at all a good start for kid, right? And after she's finally found and rescued, her whole childhood is then exploited by her father, who only wants to make money off her pain. Knowing all that she went through growing up definitely made me understand her better throughout the story, and appreciate her character growth as well. I liked Charlotte, and I'm curious to see what's next for her in the future.

Overall; I really enjoyed reading Bone Music! I think it's a good start to what should prove to be an interesting book series. Oh, did I mention that it is, in fact, going to be a series? I haven't found any information on book #2 yet, but I will most definitely be keeping my eye out for it. If you're a fan of a good mystery thriller with a sci-fi twist, do check out Bone Music by Christopher Rice!

My Thoughts: Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Truly Devious
(Truly Devious #1)
by Maureen Johnson
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Publication Date: January 16th 2018
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 432
ISBN: 9780062338051
Genre: Young Adult | Mystery | Thriller
Source: Edelweiss Review Copy

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New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson weaves a delicate tale of murder and mystery in the first book of a striking new series, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and E. Lockhart.

Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. “A place,” he said, “where learning is a game.”

Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym “Truly, Devious.” It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history.

True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester. But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder.

The two interwoven mysteries of this first book in the Truly Devious series dovetail brilliantly, and Stevie Bell will continue her relentless quest for the murderers in books two and three.(Goodreads)

My Thoughts...
I’ve had my eye on Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson for a while now, and I was super curious to finally get started on it. I’ve read a few of Maureen’s books in the past, but it’s been a while since I read those, and I was pretty excited to read something new from her. (Yes, I’ve had the opportunity to read something new by her before now, as I own quite a few of her other books that I haven’t read yet, but I digress). I finally found this book at the top my TBR, and I’m glad that I had a chance to read it. It was an interesting book!

Stevie Bell is obsessed with true-crime, and wants nothing more than to work for the FBI when she’s older. When given the opportunity to attend school at the mysterious Ellingham Academy, Stevie decides that her main goal is to solve the cold-case murder that happened there way back when the school first opened. But when a murder happens again, it’s up to Stevie to figure out exactly what’s going on, and how a similar crime from the past could be happening again in the present.

I thought Stevie was an interesting main character. I love how interested she was in true-crime, and even though that’s something I am not at all into, I still found myself relating to her in many ways. I liked how quick her mind works, and I’m super curious to see how she’s going to figure things out over the course of the next two books in the series.

I also really enjoyed the mysterious storyline for the book, and how it kept me guessing. I also thought that the back-story of what happened at the school in the past was interesting as well, and super curious to see how all of these things will tie together throughout the rest of the series. I read this book fairly quickly, so if you’re looking for a fun, mysterious read, this may be the book for you.

Overall; I thought Truly Devious was really quick, mysterious read, and I’m really curious to see what’s going to happen in the next book. I also need to try to read more of Maureen’s books that I haven’t yet read, starting with the Shades of London series, which I keep meaning to pick up but haven’t yet. (I must do that soon!) If you’re a fan of murder mysteries, do check out Truly Devious!

My Thoughts: Bonfire by Krysten Ritter

Bonfire
by Krysten Ritter
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Publication Date: November 7th 2017
Publisher: Crown Publishing
Pages: 288
ISBN: 9781524759841
Genre: Adult Fiction | Mystery | Thriller
Source: For Review

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Should you ever go back?

It has been ten years since Abby Williams left home and scrubbed away all visible evidence of her small town roots. Now working as an environmental lawyer in Chicago, she has a thriving career, a modern apartment, and her pick of meaningless one-night stands.

But when a new case takes her back home to Barrens, Indiana, the life Abby painstakingly created begins to crack. Tasked with investigating Optimal Plastics, the town's most high-profile company and economic heart, Abby begins to find strange connections to Barrens’ biggest scandal from more than a decade ago involving the popular Kaycee Mitchell and her closest friends—just before Kaycee disappeared for good.

Abby knows the key to solving any case lies in the weak spots, the unanswered questions. But as Abby tries to find out what really happened to Kaycee, she unearths an even more disturbing secret—a ritual called “The Game,” which will threaten the reputations, and lives, of the community and risk exposing a darkness that may consume her.

With tantalizing twists, slow-burning suspense, and a remote, rural town of just five claustrophobic miles, Bonfire is a dark exploration of the question: can you ever outrun your past? (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...
I have to say I was super curious to start Bonfire, not only because the summary for the book sounded really interesting, but also because it was written by actress Krysten Ritter, who seems pretty awesome. So when I was handed the opportunity to read the book, of course I jumped on it! And I’m so very glad I did!

Let me start by saying that I went into this book not really knowing what to expect, other than reading the summary. I purposefully stayed away from reviews of the book because I wanted to go into it not knowing much. I’m so glad I did! Meeting Abby Williams was interesting, and going back to her hometown with her, after being away for more than a decade, was also interesting, and, at times, incredibly painful. I can’t imagine being in her shoes, and having to reface the past that she left behind. But, I loved her willingness not to let something go, even when everyone around her was telling her to do just that. She was much stronger a person than she gave herself credit for, and that made me like her even more.

The storyline for the book was definitely interesting, and held my curiosity as I turned the pages. I did figure out most of the plot pretty early in the story, and I would say that’s because I’m good at stuff like that, but it’s really just because I’m naturally pretty suspicious of anyone and everything, and I guessed right pretty early on. (I’m totally weird like that.) Regardless, I still really enjoyed the book, and flew through the pages in no time. This book was a really quick read for me!

Overall; I really enjoyed reading Bonfire, and I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for more books by Krysten Ritter in the future! If you love a good mystery, do check out Bonfire for yourself, and I do hope you enjoy it as much as I did!