This was my first dive into a Sarah Pekkanen thriller, and I found the book to be quite enjoyable. It was a fun read, with moments of susp3.25 stars★
This was my first dive into a Sarah Pekkanen thriller, and I found the book to be quite enjoyable. It was a fun read, with moments of suspense, a fast pace, and engaging characters. The main letdown for me was how easy it was to predict. The romantic subplot at the end didn't quite click with me. IThe book would've been just fine without it, to be honest....more
In Hiding Lies, we follow Lydia, a forensic pathologist, as she's tasked with investigating the killings of a couple in a remote camping spot. A possiIn Hiding Lies, we follow Lydia, a forensic pathologist, as she's tasked with investigating the killings of a couple in a remote camping spot. A possible serial killer is at large, leaving a chilling message. Lydia resonates with this message deeply, and as the murders escalate, her suppressed dark childhood thoughts resurface. Amidst her probe, she crosses paths with Adam, a kindred spirit and avid reader grappling with his own inner turmoil.
This was a super fast-paced read. I was intrigued by the perspectives of a forensic photographer and a serial killer. I felt like there was potential for more depth in the story, so I gave it 3 stars. Nonetheless, what I did read was pretty engaging at the time!...more
“Good to keep your eyes open for the right one. You never know when it’s going to come into your life.”
Cassie's previous landlord totally3.25 stars★
“Good to keep your eyes open for the right one. You never know when it’s going to come into your life.”
Cassie's previous landlord totally kicked her out, and she's been on a wild hunt for a new place to call home. It's been a struggle, though, because none of the places she's been checking out seem to work out. She finally hit the jackpot when she started looking for houses outside of her town. She finds a sweet little spot in Boneyard Key! Turns out, nobody mentioned that Boneyard Key is actually quite unique. Boneyard Key is famous for its ghostly residents, but nobody bothered to mention that Cassie's house is haunted by a grumpy old spirit. At first, Cassie didn't buy it. Her laptop acting up? Must be faulty wiring, right? But the more time she spent in town, the more she started to think that maybe, just maybe, the locals weren't as crazy as she thought. Nick has been living in Boneyard Key his whole life. He owns the coffee shop and he's not even fazed by the ghost of the original owner who sends him text messages. When Cassie arrives, he transforms into her personal ghost tour guide, sharing all the chilling stories and secretly wishing she'll believe him. But deep down, he also hopes that she might decide to stay because he hasn't felt this way about someone in ages. Cassie maybe has the power to break down the walls he's carefully constructed. The more they hang out, the more they uncover the secrets of Cassie's new home and the resident ghost. And there's an unexpected twist that catches everyone off guard. The romance kinda took a backseat in the story, you know? Like, I didn't really care much about what was happening with Nick and Cassie. But man, Elmer, the ghost, was an awesome characters! His personalities just shined through the pages and made the whole thing so much more interesting. Cassie and Sarah's friendship, with their trash Tv marathons, was absolutely hilarious. The whole haunted town thing in the book, with the actual ghosts and everything, was seriously one-of-a-kind. It brought such a unique and captivating element to the story.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review!...more
3 stars★ “I don’t know when you went from the girl I adored to the woman I can’t stop thinking about, but you did . You’ve always been in my heart, but3 stars★ “I don’t know when you went from the girl I adored to the woman I can’t stop thinking about, but you did . You’ve always been in my heart, but now you’re in my head too."
This story is all about Ian Chase, hockey player...more
“She said that even strong people need to fall apart. And if you go too long without letting yourself do that, your body’s going to do it for 3 stars★
“She said that even strong people need to fall apart. And if you go too long without letting yourself do that, your body’s going to do it for you. We’re not made of stone.”
We follow two teenage girls who find themselves at the center of a chilling mystery. Olivia, who was born at the camp where a notorious murder took place, and Reagan, whose mother was accused of the crime, are both determined to uncover the truth. When Camp Lost Lake reopens and they start digging for answers, they soon realize that a killer is on the loose and danger lurks around every corner.
I enjoyed how we to experience the perspectives of both Olivia and Reagan and even got those flashbacks to the original Lost Lake murders from 16 years ago. I managed to guess a few of plot twists. Even though I had a hunch about what was coming, the overall pacing of the book still had me hooked and entertained. I felt like the inclusion of romance subplot didn’t need to happen as it took away from suspenseful moments in the story. I think the last twist at the end wasn’t needed.
Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review! ...more
Opal's luck strikes when she wins the lottery and impulsively purchases a flower farm in Asheville. Little does she know, Pepper is already re3 stars★
Opal's luck strikes when she wins the lottery and impulsively purchases a flower farm in Asheville. Little does she know, Pepper is already residing there! To make amends, Opal proposes a plan for Pepper to stay and work together on the farm as repayment.
This book had me going through a whirlwind of emotions. On one hand, I absolutely loved the representation of neurodivergent characters and the sapphic spice level. But on the other hand, I gotta keep it real, the contrived drama and situations didn't quite hit the mark for me. Opal and some of the side characters sounded quite similar, which made it a bit confusing to figure out who was speaking. It was like a never-ending guessing game of who was speaking. I was really hoping for a deeper emotional connection with the main characters too. Sometimes, it got a bit cringey or over the top for my taste. The dialogue felt a bit clunky in places, and I wanted more tension. Overall this was light-hearted read, not too heavy on the plot.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for hooking me up with an early listen to the audiobook! ──────── pre-review: this will be my first sapphic romance! hope it delivers ...more
So, Lauren is the new girl in town, from California, trying to leave her troubled past behind. She starts dating Robbie, not knowing about him3 stars★
So, Lauren is the new girl in town, from California, trying to leave her troubled past behind. She starts dating Robbie, not knowing about him and his brother Trevor's infamous reputation in the small town. Rumors swirl around them, accusing them of murdering their exes. At first, Lauren dismisses the rumors, knowing that things aren't always what they seem. But as she spends more time with them, she discovers some incriminating evidence that makes Robbie look more than guilty. [image] Even though I finished reading this book, I'm still struggling to decide how I truly feel about it. It's not necessarily a bad book, but it doesn't really stand out from the crowd either. It falls into the same patterns as other ya mysteries like aggtm and one of us is lying. The thing is, I couldn't connect with the characters as much as I did in those other two books.
Sadly , the ending didn't have the impact I was hoping for. I saw it coming from a mile away, and it felt like I've encountered similar endings in other ya mysteries. While I didn't really connect with the characters, the plot was intriguing and kept me hooked enough to finish the whole book in just one day. If you're a newbie to the ya mystery genre, I would definitely recommend giving this book a read. It will introduce you to all the classic tropes you'll find in ya novels. It's a great starting point!
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for hooking me up with an early listen to the audiobook!──────── pre-review: i was so curious when i saw this was recommended for fans of holly jackson...more
*ೃ༄Float It's ok to stop struggling and just float. There's always been something supporting you.*ೃ༄*ೃ༄Float It's ok to stop struggling and just float. There's always been something supporting you.*ೃ༄...more
“Some people will never believe you no matter how hard you explain yourself. Trust me, there's no pleasing people. If they're determined to3.5 stars★
“Some people will never believe you no matter how hard you explain yourself. Trust me, there's no pleasing people. If they're determined to think the worst of you, they will.”.
Lucy's stuck in a job she can't stand and living with a boyfriend she's not really feeling. Back in her hometown, life was a dream: a wealthy hubby, a gorgeous house, and a promising writing career. But everything went downhill when her bestie, Savvy, passed away and people pointed fingers at Lucy. She can't recall that fateful night and worries she might be responsible for Savvy's death. So, she flees to LA, hoping for a fresh start. But when a popular true crime podcast delves into Savvy's story, all eyes are back on Lucy.
Alright, let's dive into the audiobook! It's seriously good! The way January LaVoy and Will Damron narrate the story is absolutely fantastic. They make the characters come alive, especially with the alternating perspectives between Lucy and Ben's podcast.
The story had me completely captivated right from the beginning. Since Lucy can't remember what happened on the night Savvy passed away, you're left in the same state of uncertainty. As the plot unravels, you discover secrets that go beyond just the murder. Lucy's dark sense of humor and sarcastic personality. I found it fascinating and it added even more depth to her character.
While I wished the ending was more tied up and had an epilogue, I still think you should absolutely check out this book when it releases. If you enjoy small town thrillers with a unique storytelling style. And trust me, getting the audiobook will take your reading experience to a whole new level!
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for hooking me up with an early listen to the audiobook! ──────── pre-review: the leap day really blessed me with all these arcs ...more
"I just think that maybe happiness isn’t crossing a finish line, or finally meeting the right person or getting the right job or finding the
3.5stars⚝
"I just think that maybe happiness isn’t crossing a finish line, or finally meeting the right person or getting the right job or finding the right life. It’s the little things."
Viola is always frustrated with the world, trying to navigate the challenges of dealing with people. And then there's Jack, adored by everyone (except Vi), with a promising athletic future. But everything changes when he breaks his leg, and they end up playing video games together every night for months. The twist? He has no idea it's her.
Viola is such a complex character! Some people don't find her likable and call her a "bitch," but she actually believes that label and uses it as a shield. It's like she doesn't want people to expect too much from her. She has some things to work on, like opening up and showing her emotions. But it's frustrating how the people around her make her feel like she's the worst person ever. In reality, she's just a teenage girl, angry at the world, and trying to figure out how to handle those emotions. But as the story progresses, you can definitely see some growth in Viola.
Jack is like every teenager who thought they had it all figured out, only to realize, "Oops, I don't." It was great that the book had dual points of view, so we could understand what he was going through. Seeing his feelings for Viola grow gradually was incredibly sweet. Unlike most people, he didn't see her as a terrible person. Their relationship blossoming was amazing to witness!
The message incorporated in the story of "Twelfth Knight" is absolutely amazing. It's all about learning to let others into our lives and experiencing the beautiful emotions of love and belonging. It tackles real life issues in a fun and light hearted way, which makes it super relatable without being overly dramatic. I would recommend anyone who's into video games to read this book. The only thing that stopped me from giving it a perfect 4 stars was that I was kinda hoping for a bit more romance. But overall, it's a total gem of a coming of age story. ...more
Kai and Ren have been in the same class since middle school, but in their final year of high school, they're not in the same class anymore. Kai3stars⚝
Kai and Ren have been in the same class since middle school, but in their final year of high school, they're not in the same class anymore. Kai feels like he and Ren are growing apart. As the story unfolds, they both realize they have feelings for each other. It's such a sweet journey of self discovery! ...more
“The beautiful thing about love is how it transcends time. People find each other over and over again in different lifetimes. I wouldn
3-3.5stars ⚝
“The beautiful thing about love is how it transcends time. People find each other over and over again in different lifetimes. I wouldn’t be surprised if I knew you in my previous life before I became Aiden.”
Joyce is a lawyer who's had enough of her job, defending guilty clients and feeling exhausted. But then things take a crazy turn when she ends up in the afterlife, specifically in Eden, a place ruled by reapers. And guess what? Joyce, being the lawyer she is, is needed there to represent Aiden in a groundbreaking court case. There's definitely some sneaky stuff happening behind the scenes too. Joyce and Aiden have a big task ahead to bring justice to their world!
Joyce is such a likable character, and her lighthearted and funny personality really shines through.
Aiden He's like the perfect counterpart to her. His sense of humor was spot-on and well-timed. It would've been awesome to see things from his perspective as well. I enjoy the banter with Aiden and Joyce.
The plot "twists" in the book were predictable, at least to me. At some point the smut was too much for me.
But overall this was such a fun time. I think i might try book 2 when it comes out.
Fav moments/quotes
“I just want a job that does not make me want to jab my pen into my own eye at least once a day, or that does not involve dealing with other people's messed-up lives. “ Yeah me too girl...more
This short story was really short but good! It captured the challenges and emotional journey of those left behind and the consequences faced by those This short story was really short but good! It captured the challenges and emotional journey of those left behind and the consequences faced by those who ran. It didn't shy away from the difficult moments, but still managed to bring it all to a positive ending. ...more
This book was like a cute, bite-sized treat with a sprinkle of seriousness. While it didn't delve too deep, it still managed to keep me entertained frThis book was like a cute, bite-sized treat with a sprinkle of seriousness. While it didn't delve too deep, it still managed to keep me entertained from start to finish. It was a fun and enjoyable read that left me wanting more!
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