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
Five years ago, Ryan was was about to have the most amazing night with his girlfriend. But instead, it turned into a nightmare. He got attac2.5 stars★
Five years ago, Ryan was was about to have the most amazing night with his girlfriend. But instead, it turned into a nightmare. He got attacked, Ali went missing, and a terrifying creature emerged from the darkness. Ryan was blamed for Ali's disappearance, faced ridicule, and decided to start fresh with a new identity. Now, as a law student on a class trip, he encounters the same monster and learns that Ali's car was found in a lake with two dead men and a mysterious note. Meanwhile, a Kansas sheriff's deputy and a Philadelphia mobster are entangled in their own chaotic situations. Somehow, these events are connected, and Ryan is determined to uncover the truth.
Alright, let's kick things off with the good! The pacing is super fast, and the short chapters kept me kinda engaged. But that's pretty much where the positives end for me.
The rest of it, well, it was a bit of a mess...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
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
“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 powered through the audiobook because it had a little something different going on with the podcast and netflix segments. otherwise, the plo2stars⚝
i powered through the audiobook because it had a little something different going on with the podcast and netflix segments. otherwise, the plot was on the boring side....more
Billie and Cassie have been best friends since they were kids. But ever since Cassie's daughter, Ella, was born, they've grown apart. Everythin2stars⚝
Billie and Cassie have been best friends since they were kids. But ever since Cassie's daughter, Ella, was born, they've grown apart. Everything changes on the night of Cassie's thirty-fifth birthday party when Ella goes missing from Cassie's apartment. In a desperate plea for help, Cassie reaches out to Billie. Despite their estrangement, Billie is determined to mend their friendship and assist Cassie, even though revealing the truth about what happened to Ella could risk their bond forever.
"Bye, Baby" ended up leaning more towards women's fiction rather than being the mystery thriller I was hoping for. Billie being the more likable character somewhat and Cassie just being terrible. Their relationship touches on relatable aspects like friendship breakups. I think it could have been trimmed down as the last 100 pages weren't necessary.
Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for a ARC....more
Jen, the accomplished lawyer, is caught in a time loop, trying to prevent her own son from committing a murder.
I'm kind of torn about this book it's aJen, the accomplished lawyer, is caught in a time loop, trying to prevent her own son from committing a murder.
I'm kind of torn about this book it's a great opportunity to reflect on your own life and how you'd see important moments with the wisdom you have now. But on the flip side, it feels like the story has unnecessary filler content that could have been avoided. If the story had a more straightforward approach, it might not be as captivating. It's like there are parts that could have been condensed or omitted to make it more engaging. ────────
i'm at 64% in this, don't know how i feel about it...more
natalie, the popular and beautiful sales representative, and dawn, the socially awkward accountant, have their lives turned upside down when dawn goesnatalie, the popular and beautiful sales representative, and dawn, the socially awkward accountant, have their lives turned upside down when dawn goes missing. natalie's gut feeling that something's wrong grows stronger as she discovers a mysterious phone call from dawn whispering "help me."
knowing the author's pattern it makes the plot twists less surprising. it's like missing out on that element of surprise that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
i still recommend this book if you want quick and easy read....more
The Only One Left is a super creepy book. It's about this girl who lived in a mansion where her family was brutally killed. Now, years later, she3.75⭐
The Only One Left is a super creepy book. It's about this girl who lived in a mansion where her family was brutally killed. Now, years later, she's still there with a new home health aid named Kit. The twist is, Lenora can only communicate through a typewriter! As the story unfolds, she reveals more about the night of the murders. The only downside was that it took a while to get to the main plot twist, and the book felt a bit too long. But hey, the abundance of plot twists at the end made up for it! Gave me some serious whiplash in a good way. Love a mystery thriller with surprises! Riley Sager did a good job with the description as well really putting myself into the house...more
“It was easy to push people away when you knew how.” [image] We follow Annabel Price (Bel), who was only two years old when her mother, Rachel Price, d“It was easy to push people away when you knew how.” [image] We follow Annabel Price (Bel), who was only two years old when her mother, Rachel Price, disappeared. She's the last person who saw her before she mysteriously disappeared. But here's the thing, all she knows about the case and that day is what she's pieced together from other people's memories. So, get this: they're making a true crime documentary about her mom's disappearance, and guess what? Rachel Price shows up out of nowhere!
“The people who loved you, the ones who really cared, they would always come back. Sometimes, they even came back from the dead.”
*Cues sad music* [image] As a big fan of Holly Jackson's writing, I had high hopes for this book. But unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. I'll go into brief detail about what I enjoyed and what didn't quite work for me. Let's start with our main character, shall we?
Bel was seriously fearless when it came to speaking her mind! I loved how her mouth had no brakes and she would say exactly what was on her mind. Getting to know her throughout this was a pleasure! It's was refreshing to see a character who isn't afraid to be honest and upfront. Her unfiltered thoughts and outspoken nature added an extra layer of authenticity to her character.
At first, I wasn't sure if the book really needed that romantic element, but then I found myself totally rooting for it! It added this extra layer of excitement that kept me hooked.
So, looking back, the story had a lot of promise with a solid mystery at its core. But, I gotta be honest, the slow pacing and repetitive narration kinda took away from the tension and suspense. However, around the halfway point, things started to pick up with all those twists and turns, and let me tell you, I couldn't put it down! Throughout the book, I had my suspicions, but there were a couple of twists that I actually guessed, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. My favorite scene was definitely when the truth was revealed. And you know what? I'm still questioning something from the book. It's been a back and forth decision, but I think giving it a rating of 3.75 feels fair to me.
“The Reappearance of Rachel Price” wasn't a bad book, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations either. In my opinion, it's not the author's best work. Sometimes we have high hopes for a book and it doesn't quite hit the mark. But hey, it's all part of the reading journey, right? We win some, we lose some!
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s-Delacorte Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review!...more