True crime writer, Wylie Lark, is spending a few months living in a remote farmhouse cottage focused on wr4.5 stars!
Packed with tension and suspense!
True crime writer, Wylie Lark, is spending a few months living in a remote farmhouse cottage focused on writing her new book. She is researching two murders that happened in the same cottage which involved the disappearance of a teenage girl. A wintry storm adds to her isolation until she discovers a small child stranded at her doorstep…
This was an intense thriller! I was anxious and on the edge of my seat for the majority of this novel. Every single page was gripping, atmospheric and suspenseful. This was one of the most binge-worthy, unputdownable books I’ve read in a while!
There are several storylines introduced in chapter one. Seeming random at first, each storyline flowed smoothly and fit together seamlessly by the end. The way this novel unfolds is a brilliant and perfectly paced puzzle that kept me hanging on every word. Each character and storyline added an intriguing amount of tension and kept me guessing as to how it would all come together.
My one small issue was that the conclusion was overly dramatic and not as gripping or believable as the remainder of the story. It took my enjoyment down just a tiny bit as it didn’t fit with the amazing-ness of the rest of the book.
Overall, an amazing read that I highly recommend to thriller fans. This will be on my 2022 Favourites List! Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!...more
“Hope is contagious. Your actions will inspire others.”
Jane Goodall is a name that everyone knows. Having started her career living in the 3.5 stars.
“Hope is contagious. Your actions will inspire others.”
Jane Goodall is a name that everyone knows. Having started her career living in the remote forest studying chimpanzees, decades later she is a highly respected professional who travels the world to raise awareness on our environmental crisis. Jane has the profound impact of inspiring younger generations who then encourage their parents to make change.
The author, Doug Abrams, writes this novel as a sort of conversation with Jane, offering up all of her life examples and insights to the reader. While I found many of the examples were touching, I did find that I got lost in some of them and my interest wavered. This was a book I had to be in the mood to pick up and feel ‘ready’ for, but each time I did pick it up, I found I took something important away from what I read.
My main takeaway from this book is that one tiny little glimmer of hope is all you need in order to move forward and make change. Jane believes there is hope for our world which is currently facing so much crisis and damage.
Overall, this was an important read. Do I think this was an all-consuming life-changing book? No. Do I think it was an informative, inspiring, feel-good, worthwhile read? Yes. Jane is a humble and inspiring woman who has undoubtedly made an extremely positive impact on our world.
Thank you to Celadon Books for the gifted physical review copy!...more
Amelia wins a weekend getaway for her and her husband at an isolated remodel4+ stars! Compulsively readable!
A quick, addictive and super twisty treat!
Amelia wins a weekend getaway for her and her husband at an isolated remodeled chapel in the Scottish countryside. Their marriage is troubled and they hope this time away together will help repair what is broken. Soon after arrival, mysterious and peculiar things begin to happen.
This was such a fun and entertaining book! The perfect mindless escape read to simply sit back and get lost within. The short chapters were easy to fly through. There was a strong sense of foreboding tension that slowly built as the story progressed. I loved the palpable wintery atmosphere - the snowy isolated countryside had me reaching for a blanket every time I picked this up.
There are implausible elements to this storyline which is usually a turn off for me, but the writing was so smooth, consuming and addictive that I was hooked - I couldn’t put this down! I was fully invested from start to the shocking finish!
The characters were not likeable, yet I was rooting for them to figure out what was happening. Bob, the dog, was my favourite - I loved what he added to the storyline. That twisty ending still has me in shock! Twist after twist after twist - loved it!
This had a One By One by Ruth Ware vibe to it but with a much smaller cast of characters. I enjoyed the locked room mystery feel.
Overall, this was a quick, entertaining, suspenseful and twisty domestic thriller that kept me on my toes and had me flipping the pages as fast as possible. I highly recommend!...more
A wartime novel focused on the love and bond between sisters.
Based on true events, sisters Cibi, Magda and Livi share a promise to their fath2.5 stars
A wartime novel focused on the love and bond between sisters.
Based on true events, sisters Cibi, Magda and Livi share a promise to their father that they will always look out for one another. This promise carries them through several harrowing years living as Jewish prisoners at Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps.
One theme that stuck with me throughout this novel was how people suffered with ‘survivors guilt’. Feeling guilty if they survived the concentration camps, feeling guilty if they didn’t suffer as much as the next survivor, feeling guilty for witnessing things they didn’t try to stop, etc. The author did an excellent job pushing this topic forward and showing the reader how endless and life consuming this guilt can be.
This was one of my most highly anticipated novels of the year as I loved Books 1 and 2 in this series. Unfortunately this lacklustre ending to the series didn’t live up to my hopes and expectations.
My main issue was the main characters — the three sisters were extremely childish and “cutesy”. They didn’t feel real. I couldn’t take their conversations seriously as their immaturity and babyish behaviour and dialogue took away from the harrowing storyline, the true grit and the heaviness of the times. For this reason, this entire story lacked the emotional pull that I have come to expect from this series. I simply wasn’t invested in the characters so my heart wasn’t in it. I can understand how wonderful it would have been for the author to be interviewing these sisters and putting their story to paper, but this simply didn’t resonate with me in any way.
Another issue for me was that this book lacked anything new. I love reading historical fiction so that I can learn about pieces of our history through fictional, entertaining characters. While the author did a good job telling the true story of these sisters, it failed to offer a fresh perspective on this time in our history. These characters brought nothing new to the over-saturated genre and the repetitive feel made the book drag.
Overall, this was barely an “ok” read for me. Many readers will love this for being a heartwarming, lighter wartime read. I feel that readers who have followed along in this trilogy will find this last book less intense and impactful. It was more of a cute, feel-good story than a powerful, emotional one. It failed to offer anything new and felt drawn out and repetitive. I strongly recommend reading Book 1 & 2 in this series and then adjusting your expectations for this one as it’s a completely different kind of read.
Thank you to St Martins Press for my review copy!...more
This promising debut novel revolves around a woman who reconnects with her childhood nanny.
I was captivated by this storyline immediately a3.5 stars.
This promising debut novel revolves around a woman who reconnects with her childhood nanny.
I was captivated by this storyline immediately and felt invested in the main characters situation. I enjoyed the flashbacks to the main characters childhood when she was taken care of by her nanny. The plot flowed back and forth between timelines smoothly and kept me curious with how it would conclude.
The author does a great job building suspense and foreboding tension. Evil seemed to be lurking within everyone and I didn’t know who was being truthful. There was a sense of creepiness throughout the book that kept me on edge.
The novel lost steam for me around halfway and had some plot points that felt far-fetched and took away from my connection. Things picked back up in the last quarter to the shocking conclusion that left me unsettled and somewhat confused (perhaps I missed something?).
Warning: there are scenes with animal abuse/killing which will deter many readers. Also, the author uses some shocking and “non-sugarcoated” descriptive detail that some readers may find offensive or “too much”.
Overall, this was a creepy and suspenseful story. Though it wasn’t a favourite of mine, it was entertaining from start to finish. Thank you to the publisher for my gifted review copy!...more
This book is outside my usual reading genres so it was a nice change of pace palate cleanser. I enjoyed trying something 3 stars. Charming and unique!
This book is outside my usual reading genres so it was a nice change of pace palate cleanser. I enjoyed trying something new and easy.
I liked the small town/island atmosphere and enjoyed meeting the quirky cast of unforgettable characters.
The first 100 pages intrigued me and kept me curious as to how everything would fit together. As nice as it was to change up my reading pattern, the rest of the novel dragged on and the storyline became too cutesy and predictable for my liking.
Overall, I’m glad I read it to see what all the buzz was about but it didn’t end up being my cup of tea. Thank you to my lovely local library for the loan!...more
It pains me to rate a book by this author so low as I usually adore her books. However, this was a com2 stars.
Family drama with WAY too much going on.
It pains me to rate a book by this author so low as I usually adore her books. However, this was a complete miss for me. I had no sense of connection or investment in any part of this storyline. I knew from the very start I wasn’t connecting with the characters but I pushed ahead thinking it would turn around and I just needed to give it time. Unfortunately the novel progressively got worse as I read on and I should have DNF’d.
The prologue was unique and interesting but had a soap opera feel to it which is a feeling that stayed with me until the end of the book. The characters and dialogue came across as forced, cheesy and unrealistic which kept me distanced. I was not bought into anything that happened.
There were far too many major themes going on in these characters lives with none of them being fully explored or fleshed out. Several characters had major lifelong issues that came out within the pages of this story and it was all very cliche and predictable.
I’m definitely the outlier as many have loved this so please check out other reviews before deciding on this. Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!...more
A girl, far from a child and not yet an adult, abandoned by both parents and searching for her sense of self.
April, the 16-year-old main char5 stars!
A girl, far from a child and not yet an adult, abandoned by both parents and searching for her sense of self.
April, the 16-year-old main character, stole my heart on the first page and kept tugging at my heartstrings until the very last page.
This is a coming-of-age story. A girl whose mother abandoned her as a toddler and whose father doesn’t know how to take care of himself let alone a child. April is left to fend for herself for most of her childhood and ends up living alone in the motorless motorhome her dad won in a gambling bet. April’s love of music is the only happiness and company she has on many days. This novel follows her personal journey after she chooses to leave the only life she has ever known to find her way in the world.
The writing was gorgeous. I found myself pausing several times while reading to appreciate the beautiful words that seemed to jump off the page and into my heart. So many sentences and paragraphs were highlight worthy - extremely touching and impactful. I was fully connected and engaged. This was a slow burn, character driven story and although the pace was on the slower side, I was hanging on every word, rooting for April, never wanting the book to end.
This isn’t a happy story. April faces a plethora of life’s struggles alone and without adequate financial means. There were several points where I wished I could jump into the story to help her get through her struggles whether it be financially or from a maternal aspect. She was vulnerable yet tough. She meets several people throughout these pages that each leave an impact on her personal journey.
The theme of family is strong in this novel. Yet family doesn’t always have to be people related by blood. Family can be the ones we choose to love.
Music is a main topic yet it doesn’t overshadow the plot. Music main themes can be a hit or miss for me, and in this it worked phenomenally. It was an important and impactful piece of April’s identity that I connected strongly with.
This book sat on my shelf for way too long. A lovely bookish friend gave it to me years ago and I am so glad I was drawn to read it over the holidays as it seemed to be the perfect time. This won’t be for everyone, but the ones who connect with the writing and characters will surely put this on their Favourites Shelf when they finish, just like I am. I look forward to reading whatever this author comes out with next!...more
4+ stars for this riveting, twisty and shocking courtroom domestic drama!
Leila and her sister are close. One morning Leila’s brother-in-law calls last4+ stars for this riveting, twisty and shocking courtroom domestic drama!
Leila and her sister are close. One morning Leila’s brother-in-law calls last minute to ask if she can bring her nephew to school. She rushes over to pick him up on her way to work. After picking him up, she gets a frantic call from her office and forgets he is in the backseat of her car.
This storyline is GUT WRENCHING. This centres around an extremely upsetting and intense family tragedy. My stomach was in knots for the first half of this gripping and emotional book. It’s a tough read but one I couldn’t pull myself away from. The writing is sharp and powerful. The characters are endearing and intriguing. The pace and flow of the book is strong but it did let up a little in the second half. Perhaps the intensity of the storyline was stronger at the start because of the shock of it. Regardless, this was a fantastic read from start to finish that kept me engaged and invested throughout.
I have read one of this authors previous books, Take It Back, and while that remains my favourite, this was a brilliant novel that I highly recommend!
Thank you to my lovely local library for the loan!...more
I adored this authors previous novel so much that I didn’t even read this synopsis before requesting this book on NetGSomewhere between 2.5 - 3 stars
I adored this authors previous novel so much that I didn’t even read this synopsis before requesting this book on NetGalley because I felt so connected to the authors writing. Unfortunately this didn’t work out the way I had hoped and expected.
This book started off strong! I felt an immediate investment. I liked the young characters and the southern roots to the story. There were several heartwarming scenes. I enjoyed the theme of family loyalty and how families don’t have to mean blood relatives.
My connection slowly started to dwindle after the first quarter where I felt the story lost direction. The author tried to take on too many topics leaving none of them fully explored. Childhood loss, family bonds, WWII, young soldiers hopeful families, bee keepers, witch doctors, domestic violence, mental illness, coming-of-age, sexual assault, and the list goes on…it was too much and I lost interest. I also found the plot lacked flow and jumped around without a smooth transition.
Overall, there were some endearing characters with heartfelt scenes, but the novel failed to keep me engrossed. I highly recommend picking up this authors previous novel, If The Creek Don’t Rise, rather than this one.
Thank you Sourcebooks for the digital review copy!...more
Complex relationship dynamics. Provocative and forbidden love. Undeniable family bond. Palpable atmosphere.
A central the5+ stars!
2022 Favourites List!
Complex relationship dynamics. Provocative and forbidden love. Undeniable family bond. Palpable atmosphere.
A central theme of this beautifully written, character-driven, slow burn novel is love. At the very core, it is a love story. A family love story. A love story with nature. A secret illicit love story.
The bulk of the book explores a unique and complex family dynamic that had me consumed and engrossed within the various relationships. The author did an outstanding job pulling me into feeling extremely invested in these characters intimate lives. I simply cannot pick my favourite character or relationship as there are so many engrossing and thought provoking layers to each one. When I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about it.
The main plot point happens before the novel even starts with the main character reminiscing about the night before. Even though I didn’t experience the event alongside the main character, I was consumed and invested immediately within the first chapter. This is a true testament of powerful writing!
I am surprised by just how much I loved this love story. Love stories are generally not my thing, yet I was 100% invested and rooting for this one from the first to last page. The relationships within this book felt so real.
While love is the main theme, this book is much darker than I expected. There are several heavy and uncomfortable topics that shocked and upset me but they were critical to the plot. Be warned that this isn’t an easy read and with the pace being slower, it is one you have to be ready for.
The atmosphere is tangible throughout and plays a large role in the overall storyline. The plot centres around a cluster of secluded cottages near a pond and forest that hold deeply buried family secrets.
The novel takes course over one day but is fleshed out with bits and pieces of the characters pasts which are slowly revealed. I loved the way the author presented the story and kept me feeling the burn of curiosity in how it would all come together.
As you can see, this was a winner for me. Easily makes it on this years Favourite Shelf. I can understand the mixed reviews as this is a heavy book that the reader must be ready for and luckily it came at the perfect time for me. Highly recommend!...more
Told in two timelines, this historical mystery focuses on the 1960’s voters registration civil rights initiative in the southern states. The2.5 stars.
Told in two timelines, this historical mystery focuses on the 1960’s voters registration civil rights initiative in the southern states. The Summer Community Organization And Political Education (SCOPE) Project was a movement where young White men and women canvassed door to door in rural Black counties encouraging the citizens to register to vote. Though voting was legal for all citizens, law makers and enforcers in these southern states did everything they could to make it difficult and often impossible for Blacks to vote.
An informative look at this important time in our history. I recognize and appreciate all the research that would have went into creating this story. Learning about SCOPE was fascinating. The dedication of these members was inspiring and hopeful, especially coming from such a dark and difficult time where it was a constant challenge and often dangerous to move forward and try to make change.
The author does an excellent job educating her readers on this important civil rights movement, however, I had no connection to the characters. I appreciate this for being an educational read only. The mystery, the storyline, the characters — none of it worked for me which is very unusual for this author. While the plot involved very important subject matter, it was not conveyed in a convincing manner. I had zero connection to the main character in either timeline which prevented me from feeling any sort of investment.
The Past timeline ending is intense, but I wasn’t emotionally involved so it lacked the powerful punch it should have had. The Present Day storyline was dull and predictable.
Overall, this was and informative and educational read, but not an entertaining or enjoyable one. I am a big fan of this author and would rank this book my least favourite of hers. I encourage you to pick up any of this authors other work before this one, however, I am the outlier in my opinion as many have loved it.
Thank you St Martin’s Press for the digital review copy! ...more
This thriller has been on my TBR list since it released in 2021. This 247 page book packs quite the punch! I inhaled this cla4.5 pulse-pounding stars!
This thriller has been on my TBR list since it released in 2021. This 247 page book packs quite the punch! I inhaled this claustrophobic, tension filled, gut wrenching story in two days as I had a really hard time putting it down once I got into the story. It could easily be read in one sitting and would be most impactful that way.
This novel revolves around a woman in captivity. It isn’t what you may expect - she isn’t locked in a room, or held by chains, or hidden in a basement. She is living on an isolated farm with her captor who watches and controls her every move.
This book took me a few chapters to connect. I wasn’t sure it was going to work at first but the more I read, the more I connected with the writing and became engrossed and consumed with the story. After the halfway point, I was compulsively reading it in every spare minute I had. It’s a unique, intense, disturbing and uncomfortable read that I will never forget.
If you enjoy thrillers and haven’t read this yet, run to your nearest library or bookstore and get a copy in your hands!...more
A quiet, character-driven, small town mystery drama.
Winston is the Sheriff up for re-election in a small North Carolina town in the 1980’s. He3 stars.
A quiet, character-driven, small town mystery drama.
Winston is the Sheriff up for re-election in a small North Carolina town in the 1980’s. He awakens one night to the murder of a local Black man on a nearby airfield beside a mysterious plane crash. What unfolds is a story of family, race and hidden secrets.
Small town sheriff stories are usually my favourite. Unfortunately this one didn’t work for me. I’ve had my ups and downs with this author and sadly this novel falls into the “miss” pile. The pace was too slow and failed to keep my interest. It started off with an intriguing first couple of chapters but my interested faded as the storyline dragged on and failed to truly pull me in. I found the writing was too wordy and I struggled to pick the book back up once I set it down. Perhaps this would have worked better for me at a different time. I recommend it to readers who are looking for a quiet, slow, character-driven, small town mystery.
This domestic thriller revolves around a wealthy couple who are attending a unique form of marriage counse3 stars
An easy and entertaining beach read.
This domestic thriller revolves around a wealthy couple who are attending a unique form of marriage counselling.
I usually love stories involving therapy sessions and exploring the patient/therapist relationship. This one started off strong! I was intrigued by the “new” method of therapy this doctor had developed and how it would work out for the troubled couple. Unfortunately, as the novel progressed and the therapist took on more of a private investigator role, my attention wavered and I lost my connection. I wanted more of the therapist perspective rather than a private detective.
The characters were entertaining but lacked depth. I did find myself confused between the two main female characters a few times.
I enjoyed this for being a mindless, fun and entertaining story but not a believable or memorable one. It was missing the “wow” factor that this author duo usually delivers. It was easy to get lost in the secrets and suspense, but there were plenty of eye rolling moments along the way. This is my least favourite book by this author duo. It was a “like”, not a “love” for me. I was entertained but not invested.
Thank you to St Martins Press for my review copy!...more
This novel follows the Brennan family. Four adult siblings and their aging father. Sunday Brennan, the only sis2.5 stars. Overhyped and underwhelming.
This novel follows the Brennan family. Four adult siblings and their aging father. Sunday Brennan, the only sister, moves back to the family home after being away for five years. Tension builds and emotions collide when feelings from the past arise and family secrets are revealed.
This book has a lot of hype which is what attracted me to it in the first place. It has been compared to Ask Again, Yes which I loved. Unfortunately, I didn’t find this nearly as intriguing or well written. This novel wasn’t terrible for me, but it was borderline boring. It is an example of what I like to call “averagely enjoyable.” I kept waiting for something (anything!) to happen that would make me feel invested and understand the hype. I didn’t connect with (or like) any of the characters. Much of the plot was predictable and overdone.
I enjoyed how the chapters flowed - each chapter switching characters and continuing on with the same dialogue from another’s perspective.
Overall, this was just an “ok” read for me that I wouldn’t recommend. I believe all the hype set my expectations way too high for what this delivered. However, please note that I am the outlier so please read the many raving reviews before making your decision on this one....more
An infamous woman living an isolated life to avoid facing her family’s truth. An old money, eerie 3.5 stars.
Started off a lot stronger than it ended.
An infamous woman living an isolated life to avoid facing her family’s truth. An old money, eerie mansion harbouring ghosts of the family’s past. A true-crime reporter who can’t ignore the spark of solving a cold case story.
This novel pulled me in immediately with its engrossing atmosphere and foreboding tension. I was gripped from the first page and found it easy to fly through chapters and get lost in. I connected with the characters right away and felt invested in their stories. The cat, Winston Purrchill, was fantastic - I loved him and all he brought to the story!
The true-crime aspect was an appealing element of this storyline, however it didn’t carry the weight I had expected and wasn’t something that pulled the story forward. It held potential that never quite amounted to anything for me.
The second half of the novel lost intensity causing my connection to fizzle. The story remained enjoyable but not as gripping or edgy as the beginning half. By the last 20%, the atmosphere and tension lost its grip on me and the conclusion felt rushed and unbelievable.
I love this author and her gothic ghostly stories but this one didn’t live up to the amazingness of her previous books for me. I remain a fan and look forward to what she comes out with next!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!...more
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