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The Country Road Murders by James Patterson and Mike Lupica: Book Review

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I’m a fan of both James Patterson and Mike Lupica since thrillers and sports are two of my favorite genres. Surprisingly, what stood out most to me in The Country Road Murders was the main character, Silas. Athletic, thoughtful and caring despite a difficult upbringing, he reminded me of some of my former students. He is the kind of young person whose toughness is easy to see, but whose heart is what you remember.

Book cover of The Country Road Murders, a thriller by James Patterson and Mike Lupica, featuring a lonely rural road beneath a dark, stormy sky.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

Click to read the summary or to buy on Amazon

Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Sports / Fiction

Pages: 416

Published on: July 13, 2026

📚 Judi’s Report Card on The Country Road Murders:

Main Character: A ❤️🏈
Silas was the strongest part of the book for me. I love how he treated his grandmother and best friends.

Supporting Characters: B+ 👥
The supporting cast added heart and helped show different sides of Silas, although a few characters could have been developed more.

Writing: A- ✍️📖
Patterson and Lupica kept the story readable and engaging, with clear writing, natural dialogue, and short chapters that moved quickly.

Mystery & Suspense: B 🔍🚨
There wasn’t a lot of mystery to the story. The characters were ultimately more memorable to me than the investigation itself.

Pacing: B ⏱️
Most of the story moved along quickly. I especially liked the football parts of the storyline.

Overall Grade: B ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I enjoyed the story, especially the characterization. There wasn’t enough mystery/thriller for me, but it was still a fun read.

My Thoughts on The Country Road Murders:

Blend of Genres:

One of the reasons that I like when Patterson teams up with Lupica is because there is always a blend of genres. With Lupica, you know you are going to get a strong sports background to the story. The football element felt realistic and added to the story.

With Patterson, you know you are going to get shorter chapters with some mystery. There was also the small-town feeling, family secrets, romance, friendship, and organized crime.

Characterization:

The characterization was the strength of the book. I like that there were so many sides to Silas. His character was well-developed, and I never stopped cheering him on. His relationship with Taylor, his best friend since elementary school, and his grandmother, EJ, showed Silas’ soft, caring side. His drive to take out his opponents on the field and the Southern Mafia off the field showed his grit and determination. Since EJ raised Silas since he was fourteen, you can tell where he got his determination from throughout the years.

There were a lot of supporting characters, so you couldn’t dive into them as much, but EJ and Taylor were my two favorites. Their love for Silas showed no boundaries, especially while he was struggling.

My Rating:

Overall, The Country Road Murders is worth reading, as long as you do not expect an intense mystery or thriller. If you like small-town stories, sports, and a cast that includes loyal friends, strong family figures, and determined underdogs, then you will enjoy this book.

Where to Buy The Country Road Murders and More:

Buy this book on Amazon!

📝 Extra Credit Reading:

If The Country Road Murders earned a passing grade from you, add these three books to your extra-credit reading list:

  1. A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? Like The Country Road Murders, this book combines a compelling mystery with characters you genuinely care about. Both stories feature thoughtful, capable characters who are driven by loyalty and a strong sense of justice.
  2.  Beach Thriller by Jamie Day | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? Although the setting and main characters are very different, Beach Thriller is another character-driven mystery in which grief, family history, and old secrets are just as important as the suspense.
  3. Lies He Told Me by James Patterson and David Ellis | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? Like The Country Road Murders, it features Patterson’s fast pace and the characters are forced to uncover painful truths about the people closest to them.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown & Co, James Patterson and Mike Lupica for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

 💬 Let’s Chat:

Have you ever read a character who reminded you of someone you once taught, worked with, or knew in real life?

Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves / My 5-Star Book Review

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I don’t deal well with death. In fact, I usually avoid books and movies where I know the main character, especially if it’s an animal, is going to die. That’s exactly why I almost skipped Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves.

Then I read a review that said this novel actually made the reviewer feel better about death.

That one sentence stopped me in my tracks. If a book could really change someone’s perspective on something as universal as death, I wanted to experience it for myself. Did it change my perspective? A little, for sure. In fact, it became one of the very few books I’ve given five stars this year.

Cover of Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves, a contemporary literary fiction novel about life, love, and death.

5/5 stars ★★★★★

Click to read the summary or to buy on Amazon

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 256

Published: July 7th, 2026

📚 Judi’s Report Card:

📖 Story: A+
The premise is unlike anything I’ve read before. Turning Death into a compassionate character could have felt strange, but Ben Reeves made it feel natural, heartfelt, and unforgettable.

👥 Characters: A+
Travis, Dalia, and Layla completely stole my heart. They felt real, and I was emotionally invested in each of them from beginning to end.

❤️ Emotional Impact: A+
I laughed, I cried, and I finished the book seeing life a little differently.

✍️ Writing Style: A
Beautiful without being overly flowery. The flow was almost poetic. Reeves is definitely a strong writer.

🎬 Ending: A+
My favorite part of the entire book. The ending brought everything together in a way that was beautiful, hopeful, and deeply satisfying. It’s one of the best endings I’ve read in a long time.

⭐ Overall Grade: A+ (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)
A rare five-star read that reminded me to appreciate the ordinary moments in life and cherish the people I love.

My Thoughts on Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt:

To be honest, I wasn’t sure I was going to like the book when I first started it. Trust me, though. You’ll want to stick with it. If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, then this book isn’t for you. It has such a unique premise. Have there been books where the main character is Death? Absolutely. But to have Death be an ordinary young man in real life is a totally different take on this storyline.

The Characters:

I absolutely loved the three main characters: Travis (Death), Dalia, and Layla. The story is definitely character-driven. There are quite a few secondary characters. In the end, though, they all contribute to what makes this story feel so rich and interconnected.

Emotional Impact:

The book makes you feel all of the feelings. If you have experienced the death of a loved one, you will definitely relate to one of the characters in this book. At one point, I put the book down and did an UGLY. FACE. CRY. It made me miss my parents. More than that, it reminded me to appreciate the people that I still get to hug.

I was more moved than sad during most of the book. BUT you’ll want to keep tissues nearby more than once. On the flip side, though, this book isn’t really about dying, it’s about living. I admit, I did go and give my husband a big hug when I finished the book.

Writing Style:

Have you ever read a book that feels lyrical, but it isn’t written as poetic prose? It’s hard to explain why Reeves’ writing worked so well for me, it just did. I was living in the story. The pacing was slower, and you need to be okay with that going in. It gives you time to appreciate the writing and the characters. It almost feels intentional, like Reeves is saying to also slow down and enjoy your life.

The Ending:

The ending was my favorite part of the book. Well done, Mr. Reeves. That’s all I’m going to say.

My Rating:

A rare five-star read. I picked up this book hoping it would help me look at death differently. Instead, it reminded me to appreciate life more fully. That’s a book I’ll never forget.

Will I suddenly stop avoiding books about death? Probably not. But this story reminded me that death isn’t really the point. It’s what we do with the time we’re given that matters. That’s the perspective I’ll carry with me long after finishing this book.

Where to Buy Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt and More:

Buy this book on Amazon!

What to Read Next:

If this story touched your heart, here are three more books I think you’ll love:

  1. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? Like Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves, this book explores life’s biggest questions. Both novels encourage readers to reflect on regrets, purpose, and appreciating the life they have rather than focusing on what they’ve lost.
  2.  Michael Without Apology by Catherine Ryan Hyde | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? Both books are uplifting without pretending life is easy, and both leave readers wanting to live more intentionally.
  3. Twice by Mitch Albom | Buy on Amazon

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Avid Reader Press, and Ben Reeves for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

To learn more about Ben Reeves.

 Let’s Chat!

Has a book ever changed the way you think about life — or death? If so, I’d love to hear which one.

The Teacher’s Pet by M.A. Hunter Book Review: A School Thriller That Kept Me Guessing

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I spent more than thirty years in education, so it’s hard for me to resist a psychological thriller set in a school. That’s exactly why I read The Teacher’s Pet by M.A. Hunter. You just know there are going to be buried secrets, unreliable characters, and a setting that feels familiar.

Book cover of The Teacher's Pet by M. A. Hunter, featuring a bright red background with two broken yellow pencils crossed in an X beneath the title.

3/5 stars ★★★☆☆

Click to buy on Amazon or read the summary for this book.

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Pages: 312

Published on: June 10, 2026

📚 Judi’s Report Card

🎓 School Setting: A
The school environment felt authentic, and as a former teacher, I could easily picture the day-to-day reality.

😲 Twists: B+
The mystery kept me guessing, even when I thought I had it figured out.

🧠 Neurodiversity Representation: A
Laura’s autism was portrayed thoughtfully, especially her sensitivity to sound. It felt authentic.

❤️ Characters: D
I never really connected with any of the characters, and that’s always hard for me in a psychological thriller. I don’t have to like everyone, but I do like having at least one person to root for.

🧩 Plot Consistency: C
A few inconsistencies pulled me out of the story and kept it from being a stronger thriller. There were also a few moments that left me wondering, “Why was that even included?”

📖 Readability: B
The pacing was solid enough that I wanted to keep turning the pages to see how everything came together.

🏆 Final Grade: B-
This one had all the ingredients for a great psychological thriller, and I was invested enough to keep reading. Unfortunately, a few plot inconsistencies and a cast of characters I didn’t care about kept it from making the honor roll. 📚

My Thoughts on The Teacher’s Pet:

School Environment:

One thing that this book definitely got right was the school environment, especially because it’s a small school. The main premise of the book is that a teacher becomes romantically involved with a 15-year-old student. Unfortunately, I’ve known a colleague who crossed professional boundaries with a student, so that part of the story felt believable. It’s incredibly sad that these events do happen in schools today.

I did laugh at the antics/discussions in the staff room and in the classroom at times. As a language arts teacher in a middle school, I could definitely relate to this part of the book.

The Plot:

There were enough twists in the story to keep me guessing, but there were also some inconsistencies that didn’t make sense. For example, if no one was supposed to have known about the relationship that happened twenty years ago, why would the administrator mention it to Laura when she interviews her for the teaching job? I also didn’t understand the conversation Kerry had with Laura near the end or why it was important to the story. It felt like it was building toward something that never really happened.

The Characters:

I always enjoy books when a character with autism is portrayed. The world needs to learn more about neurodiversity. It was woven into the story naturally, and shows that there are people on different parts of the spectrum. In the book, Laura has this thought that I loved, “If there’s one thing that really grates on me, it’s when neurotypical people claim everyone is ‘a bit autistic’. It’s not possible to be a ‘a bit’ anything when your brain is wired differently. And it’s misinformation like this that devalues how challenging life can be.” Being that the author is autistic as well, I’m sure this quote came from the heart.

Acknowledgements:

I’m a glutton for a good acknowledgement note, and I enjoyed Hunter’s different thoughts. My favorite part was, “I believe our teachers do a wonderful job in difficult circumstances, and whilst not all of them are perfect, I believe deep down they all want to see the students in their care shine. If I was in charge, teachers and all in the emergency services would be on higher wages than footballers and social media influencers.”

I like that he included this quote since teachers were not portrayed in the best light in this book. It’s tiring to see how teachers are judged in society based on movies, books, tv shows, and commercials. I sort of rolled my eyes during this story as well (especially since a teacher leaves to go to a pub during lunchtime), but with Hunter’s Acknowledgements, it helped.

My Rating:

The Teacher’s Pet has an interesting premise, a realistic school environment, and enough twists to keep me reading, especially once I got into the second half, but the inconsistencies and my dislike of the characters kept it from being a standout thriller for me. I may have only given the story three stars, but I’d give that cover an A+.

Where to Buy The Teacher’s Pet and More:

Buy The Teacher’s Pet by M.A. Hunter on Amazon (It’s also a KU book)

📚 What to Read Next

If you’re looking for another psychological thriller after finishing The Teacher’s Pet, I’d recommend these three:

  1. The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? If your favorite part of The Teacher’s Pet was trying to figure out who was telling the truth, this one is right up your alley. I changed my mind more than once while reading it, and I loved trying to put all the pieces together.
  2.  Cross My Heart by Megan Collins | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? I don’t know about you, but I love a thriller where I don’t know who to trust. While The Teacher’s Pet kept me guessing with its mystery, Cross My Heart pulled me in because of the complicated relationships and secrets between the characters.
  3. The Anniversary by Alex Finlay | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? Every once in a while I finish a thriller and immediately want to tell everyone to read it. The Anniversary was one of those books. If you’re looking for a page-turner you’ll be thinking about after you finish the last page, I’d start here.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and M.A. Hunter for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

To read more books by M.A. Hunter!

 Let’s Chat!

As a teacher, I couldn’t help comparing this fictional school to real life. Have you ever read a book that reminded you of your own job or life experiences?

A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni: A Suspenseful Tracy Crosswhite Mystery | Book Review

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I’m a huge fan of Robert Dugoni’s writing, so there was no way I was going to let the fact that I’d never read a Tracy Crosswhite novel stop me from picking up A Dead Draw. I’m happy to report that I never felt like I was playing catch-up. Add in competitive shooting, my favorite character who is on the autism spectrum, and a suspenseful game of cat and mouse, and I’m so glad I picked up this book.

Cover of A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni, a Tracy Crosswhite crime thriller.

📖 Curious? Read the publisher’s summary or grab your copy of A Dead Draw on Amazon.

Genre: Mystery / Adult Fiction

Pages: 399

✨ Judi’s Vibe Check:

🎯 Competitive Shooting: 10/10
💙 Autism Representation: One of my favorite parts of the book
😱 Suspense: High
📖 Pacing: Quick, especially the second half
❤️ Characters: Invested from the start
🌙 Lost Sleep: Yes…worth it.
⭐ Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

From the publisher: An Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling series. A killer fueled by revenge. A detective haunted by the past. They are headed for a high-stakes showdown in this bone-chilling new Tracy Crosswhite novel by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni.

My Thoughts on A Dead Draw:

Part of the Series:

Ever since I read one of my favorite books The Incredible Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni, I knew I would always read any book published by him from now on, and I still have some catching up to do. I was hesitant to pick this one up, since I hadn’t read any of the Tracy Crosswhite series yet, but I didn’t need to worry. So many of my friends have told me to read this series, and now I’m glad I started. Dugoni did such a great job with the backstory throughout the book, that I never felt lost while jumping in, even though this is book 11 in the series.

The Characters:

If you have read any other reviews on my blog, you know that I love a strong female badass. It’s also why I like Dugoni’s other series about Keera Dugan. Tracy Crosswhite is a police detective who was also a competitive shooter when she was growing up. I enjoyed Dugoni’s details about using a handgun and what it takes to win some competitions. That being said, Tracy constantly questions herself. This made her seem realistic as a wife, mother, and detective, even though she doesn’t hesitate to take deadly risks.

As a teacher who has had many teenagers with autism in my classes, I appreciated how thoughtfully Dugoni wrote Lydia. He didn’t define her by autism. He simply made her an intelligent, capable young woman who also happened to be a competitive gamer and shooter trying to find her place in the adult world. Let’s face it, one of Dugoni’s strengths is his research for his characters and storylines. I love how this whole part of the story was handled.

The Pacing and Ending:

The beginning is a slow-build into the story, but I enjoyed learning so much of the backstory. The second half, though? Phew, it flew by! The suspense of what was going to happen made me keep reading into the night, and I enjoyed how the story ended. It wrapped up well without being too simplistic. I’ll definitely be following Tracy Crosswhite from now on, and I can see why this series has such a loyal following.

My Rating:

I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It was suspenseful, well-written, and introduced me to Tracy Crosswhite without making me feel lost. While it didn’t become one of those books I’ll be thinking about years from now, it was an easy four-star read that I’d definitely recommend.

Where to Buy A Dead Draw and More:

Purchase A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni here!

📚 If You Loved This Book, Read…

If you enjoyed A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni, I would add these three incredible mysteries to your TBR list next:

  1. The Profiler by Helen Fields | Buy on Amazon
    • 👉 Read my review
    • 🕵️ Read this if you love: Intelligent investigators tracking dangerous killers.
    • Like A Dead Draw, this thriller delivers suspense, a relentless investigation, and an unforgettable villain.
  2.  Beach Thriller by Jamie Day | Buy on Amazon
    • 👉 Read my review
    • 🌊 Read this if you love: Mysteries where the past refuses to stay buried.
    • Both stories have page-turning suspense as old secrets come back to haunt the present.
  3. Lies He Told Me by James Patterson and David Ellis | Buy on Amazon
    • 👉 Read my review
    • 🤫 Read this if you love: Twisty stories built around hidden secrets.
    • If you enjoyed uncovering the truth alongside Tracy Crosswhite, this fast-paced thriller will keep you guessing until the end.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Robert Dugoni for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

To learn more about Robert Dugoni.

 Let’s Chat!

What’s the last mystery that kept you reading way past bedtime?

Natalie Barelli’s The Housewife: Secrets and Thrills Unveiled

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I just read The Housewife by Natalie Barelli, a psychological thriller, about a woman who deep cleans constantly and cooks like Julia Child to cover up her dark past. If keeping a secret requires keeping a spotless house and creating creme brulee at a moment’s notice, I’d rather just be totally honest at all times. While I wouldn’t hang out with the main character, Jodie, for a single second, this fast-paced thriller gave me Freida McFadden vibes, and you just know that secrets and blood are going to hit the fan.

Book cover for Natalie Barelli’s psychological thriller The Housewife, showing a woman in a kitchen setting.

Rating: 🧹🧹🧹🔪 (3 brooms and a knife)

To read a summary of the book!

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Pages: 368

Published on: June 30, 2026

Vibe Scorecard:

Pacing 📈⚡ Fast and addictive. It gives major Freida McFadden energy.

Main Character Likability 🛑☕ A big nope. I would not hang out with Jodie in real life.

Jodie’s Cleaning Level 🧼✨ Terrifyingly spotless and clinical.

My Housekeeping Level 🌪️🤷‍♀️ The literal opposite. It’s a good thing my hubby likes it, though.

From the publisher: From bestselling indie thriller writer Natalie Barelli comes a new deliciously dark novel about a woman who married the man of her dreams, only for him to become her worst nightmare.

My Thoughts on The Housewife:

The Characters:

I didn’t like a single character in this book, however, I couldn’t help but to still root for Jodie. With her internal dialogue and strange way of working things out in her mind, I was fascinated by her throughout the book. While I wouldn’t hang out with Jodie in real life, her social awkwardness and intense perfectionism didn’t actually feel entirely alien to me. As a teacher, her need for absolute control over her environment instantly reminded me of many gifted kids who have sat in my classroom over the years. What I CAN relate to is her need to avenge her sister’s killer. No one messes with any of my sisters!

Jodie’s husband, Dr. Roy Davies, and the housemaid, Marie, were a little predictable. They reminded me of some other popular books, but I still wanted to find out how they tied in to the whole story.

Wait, there were two characters that I really enjoyed, but they were so minor. Dolores? The housekeeper next store? And her son, Mikey, who is deaf? I would totally hang out with them. You just knew they both had a good heart.

Pacing:

Thank you, Natalie Barelli, for the short chapters. In my opinion, shorter chapters in psychological thrillers are required. They make the book move much more quickly, even though I keep saying I will only read one more chapter. The ending was a little redundant when it was explaining things and how everything was connected, but I still enjoyed it.

The Audio:

I read half of the book, and I listened to half of the book. The narrator, Karissa Vacker, is excellent. I listened to it at normal speed, and her voice and inflection throughout the story is spot-on. I’m so glad I was able to listen to Jodie’s internal dialogue through the audio version. It made me laugh each time. I especially loved knowing that Jodie kept saying Marie’s name (the housekeeper) as “Mary,” instead of “Marie,” just to make her angry. In the book, it’s still written as “Marie,” so it’s a little confusing.

Vacker’s high-energy performance made it almost more enjoyable to listen to than to read the book. She definitely added to the dark humor.

My Rating:

Ultimately, I gave The Housewife a solid 3.5 stars. The plot was incredibly intriguing and kept me hooked, even if the final twists felt a bit predictable. While I wished I had liked more of the characters, I suppose that’s the tax you pay with a high-society thriller. I’m not one to want to grab a coffee with snobby people anyway! The pacing of the book is actually what made it for me.

Where to Buy The Housewife and More:

Purchase The Housewife by Natalie Barelli here!

What to Read Next!

If you enjoyed The Housewife by Natalie Barelli, I would add these three incredible psychological thrillers to your TBR list next:

  1. The Marriage Rules by Samantha Hayes | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: In The Housewife, Jodie uses the literal, rigid rules of domestic perfection—flawless cleaning, mechanical baking, and absolute order—to cope, survive, and camouflage her hidden dark past. In The Marriage Rules, Jason enforces an actual list of literal, extreme house rules to control Fiona and his daughters (everyone in bed by 8:00 PM, no social media, locks on every door, and zero talking about the past).
  2.  Lies He Told Me by James Patterson & David Ellis | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: Both plots hinge entirely on a historical trauma or crime that breaks into the present day. Neither Jodie nor David can escape what happened years ago. The central question for the reader in both books becomes: How well do you actually know the person you married, and what lengths will you go to when the truth finally comes out?
  3. Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: In The Housewife, everyone underestimates Jodie because she seems like a quirky, submissive housewife obsessed with cleaning. In Dear Debbie, the main character, Debbie Mullen, has an actual IQ of 178. Her neighbors and book club think she’s just an ordinary New England housewife who isn’t sophisticated enough to understand literature, but she is secretly the smartest person in every room she enters.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, Poisoned Pen Press, and Natalie Barelli for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

To read more about Natalie Barelli.

 Let’s Chat!

Do you need to actually like the characters in a thriller to enjoy the book, or do you love a high-society setting where everyone is a little bit toxic? Who is your favorite “unlikable” main character that you couldn’t help but root for anyway?

Alan Opts Out by Courtney Maum Review: A Funny Look at Suburban Life, Consumerism, and Starting Over

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I married a guy who loves the outdoors. Camping? Sure. Rowing? Absolutely. Hiking? Definitely. Spending a weekend without wi-fi? Easy-peasy. But moving into the playhouse in our backyard? That would be the moment I’d wonder if he was having a midlife crisis. In Courtney Maum’s Alan Opts Out, that is exactly the kind of leap that Alan Anderson takes in this book. It’s a modern satire about ambition, consumerism, and suburban life that kept me giggling throughout the story.

Book cover of Alan Opts Out by Courtney Maum featuring a man opting out of modern life

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

Read the summary of the book here!

Genre: Fiction / Humor

Pages: 352

Published on: June 2, 2026

📚 Alan Opts Out — Vibe Scorecard:

😂 Humor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ The idea of a grown man choosing a backyard playhouse as his escape plan is ridiculous in the best way. The look at suburban life made me laugh the most.

🏡 Suburban Satire: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you enjoy reading about society’s obsession with success and appearances, this book delivers.

❤️ Emotional Depth: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
There are thoughtful moments about marriage, family, and happiness.

🤔 Makes You Think: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
You may find yourself asking: Do I really need everything in my house? Is all this stuff actually making me happy?

📖 Book Club Potential: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
So many conversation starters: ambition, marriage, consumerism, happiness, and whether “opting out” is actually possible.

From the publisher: In this timely and comedic take on ambition, consumerism, and the sticker price of privilege, an ad exec who bombs the biggest pitch of his career decides to forgo capitalism and live off the land of his suburban Connecticut home. Perfect for readers of Rufi Thorpe and Taffy Brodesser-Akner.

My Thoughts on Alan Opts Out:

Humor:

You have to love a good satire on human life, especially in the suburbs. I kept thinking, “This is ridiculous.” Then I kept laughing and thought about how this could really happen. It makes you wonder What if I walked away from this life that I built? After thirty years of teaching middle school, I understood Alan’s desire to question whether the daily stress was worth it. I wouldn’t trade my personal life for anything, but like Alan, I occasionally wondered if there was another way. The fact that Alan’s job was to convince people to want things, and then he decides to give it all up is what made the story interesting.

Characters:

The family relationships were my favorite part of the book. Maum did a wonderful job of making them so realistic. Alan’s family was messy, chaotic, and yet, Maum also created the feeling of love between them. As a teacher of teenagers, the characteristics of Alan’s two daughters were spot on.

The “Queen Anne” group that Vivian, the mom, strived to get into was both horrifying and hilarious at the same time. The suburban social competition was next level. It made me dislike the mom a lot, but I could actually see it happening in real families.

Alan, though? I would totally hang out with him. I love how he was willing to question things and make changes, even if it meant looking crazy in his neighborhood. He was an influencer without being on social media. Not an easy task! Instead of convincing people to buy things, he was unintentionally convincing them to question everything.

Pacing:

The pacing of the story was mostly good, but it did slow down for me a little in the middle. The ending was satisfying and wrapped up the story nicely.

My Rating:

I gave this book four out of five stars. Overall, Alan Opts Out was a well-written book that had humor and an interesting storyline. It had a funny outlook on suburban life and consumerism. It made me laugh quite a few times, it’s weird, and it made me think. You might even start looking at that playhouse or shed in your backyard a little differently from now on.

Where to Buy Alan Opts out and More:

Purchase Alan Opts Out here!

What to Read Next!

If you enjoyed Alan Opts Out by Courtney Maum, I would add these three incredible books to your TBR list next:

  1. Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: Like Alan, Joy decides that the life she is living may not be the one that she really wants. Both books look at how life could be different for the main characters. They also both blend humor and heart into the story.
  2.  One Little Mistake by Miranda Rijks | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: Both books look at how maintaining appearances in an upscale neighborhood could be your downfall. If you enjoyed the dynamics of The Queen Anne group, then you will enjoy this book also. Both books examine the fear of not measuring up to those around you.
  3. Falling Apart and Other Gifts From the Universe by Catherine Ryan Hyde | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: This one isn’t satirical, but if you liked the emotional side of Alan Opts Out and characters who start to rethink their success and happiness, then you will enjoy this book as well.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company, and Courtney Maum for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

To learn more about Courtney Maum.

 Let’s Chat!

What’s your idea of the perfect escape? A cabin in the woods? A beach house? A quiet weekend away? Or are you ready to move into the backyard playhouse? 😉 Let me know in the comments below!

The Children by Melissa Albert: Read with Jenna Book Review

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Can you imagine being two kids featured in your mother’s famous books, with everyone around the world loving you? And yet, in reality, you are actually just two neglected children left to survive the dark Vermont woods while your artsy parents rarely pay attention to you? Melissa Albert’s adult debut, The Children, takes sibling trauma to center stage. Real-life brother and sister Guinevere and Ennis Sharpe were each other’s keepers, protectors, and only friends in a feral childhood. Can this intense sibling bond last forever, or are they hiding deep, dark secrets from each other?

Featured as a “Read with Jenna” Today Show Book Club pick, this hypnotic novel left me thinking about it long after the final page was turned.

The Children by Melissa Albert book cover design dark gothic fantasy thriller.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

To read the summary of the book!

Genre: Gothic Fiction / Magical Realism / Literary Fiction

Pages: 416

Published on: June 2, 2026

Vibe Scorecard:

🏚️ Gothic Atmosphere 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Head out to an isolated Vermont farmhouse that breathes, whispers, and keeps secrets.

🧩 Sibling Relationships ⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡ Completely messy. Guin and Ennis are the absolute beating heart of this book.

🩸 Horror / Gore🩸 High on psychological dread and low on body count. Definitely not a slasher film.

🧚 Dark Fairy Tale Energy 🍄🍄🍄🍄 Think Grimms’ fairy tales, but the monster is the mother’s typewriter stealing her children’s childhoods.

🏎️ Pacing / Speed ⏳⏳⏳ A slow-burn. The past timeline moves like a freight train, but the present-day sibling drama takes its time.

From the publisher: A READ WITH JENNA TODAY SHOW BOOK CLUB PICK

“An extraordinary book. It’s a page-turner, full of mystery, but that’s the least of it. The language is dusted with magic. The Children reminded me of Ray Bradbury at his best.” —Stephen King

The haunting new novel from New York Times bestselling author Melissa Albert, in which the estranged adult children of a legendary author, written into their dead mother’s beloved fantasy series, must contend with the vine-like creep of legacy, memory, and magic.

My Thoughts on The Children:

I gave this book four out of five stars, but it took me awhile to decide on that score.

The Vocabulary Challenge (That I Wound Up Loving)

When I first started reading The Children, I got a bit bogged down by the dense prose and flowery vocabulary. As a language arts teacher, even I found myself needing to look up many of the words! At first, it felt a little heavy-handed.

But as I got deeper into the story, my perspective completely shifted. I realized it wasn’t just fluff; Albert is simply a phenomenal writer. In fact, as an educator, I kept thinking about how perfectly her sentences could be used as mentor texts. If I were teaching a middle school language arts class today, I would absolutely pull excerpts from this book to teach students how to build tension, paint a vivid picture, and use precise, evocative vocabulary to create a physical atmosphere. Once you lean into her specific style, it becomes completely intriguing.

The Past vs. The Present

This book definitely needed its dual-timeline structure in order to understand the story more. That being said, I enjoyed the timeline of when Guinevere and Ennis were children much more. It was fun to watch them navigate their feral upbringing while trying to figure out what was actually going on with “the house.” The adult timeline was a bit slower to me, but it did add to the storyline.

More Dark Fairy Tale Than Horror

Going into this, I expected it to be a true horror story. Instead, it blends beautifully into magical realism and dark fairy-tale vibes. It features a wonderfully creepy house and unsettling forests that I almost wish I could explore myself.

My favorite element was how The Ninth City, the fictional children’s book series written by their mother, ties so perfectly into their adult lives by the conclusion. The way Melissa Albert mirrors the fictional fantasy world with the real-world trauma of the siblings was brilliant. It actually made me want to go back and reread the beginning just to see which subtle clues I might have missed!

The Verdict

If you are looking for a slasher or true horror book, you are going to be disappointed. If you want a dark fairy tale that is well-written, then you will enjoy this book. Just keep a dictionary handy. 🙂

Where to Buy The Children and More:

Purchase The Children by Melissa Albert here!

What to Read Next!

If you enjoyed The Children by Melissa Albert, I would add these three incredible books to your TBR list next:

  1. Beach Thriller by Jamie Day | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: While the setting is totally different from the dark Vermont woods, Beach Thriller hits those exact same emotional beats regarding family and grief. At its heart, it’s a story about sisterhood and how the tragic loss of a sibling shapes the rest of your life. If you loved the deep focus on sibling bonds in The Children, plus you enjoy a thriller vibe, you’ll pull for the characters here too.
  2.  The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: This is the ultimate thematic sibling to The Children. Both books center on a famous writer parent who uses their family’s dark history for fiction, and both explore the heavy trauma that siblings carry forward decades after a horrific event.
  3. Leave Your Mess at Home by Tolani Akinola | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: Like The Children, this book dives deep into the fact that no two siblings experience childhood the same way. It also directly explores how a parent’s public success and “public face” can completely shatter the private stability of their kids. It has that same unhurried, slow-and-steady character pace that lets you really get into the psychology of the family.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Melissa Albert for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

To connect with Melissa Albert on Instagram

You can also check out this Author Interview with Melissa Albert on the Today Show, where she discusses the real-life inspirations behind the children in her book.

 Let’s Chat!

Did you grow up reading any fantasy books that you look at a bit differently now that you’re older? Let me know in the comments below!

Liberty Street by Heather Marshall – Book Review

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If you have ever sat in a middle school classroom, you know that eye-rolling, slammed doors, and general defiance are an everyday occurrence. After reading Liberty Street by Heather Marshall, I learned that “incorrigible behavior” could get a teenage girl or an adult woman thrown in Toronto’s notorious women’s prison until the 1960’s for a minimum of six months and up to two years. Can you imagine? If I taught high school, a large part of my classroom roster would have been missing by the end of the year. Ha. This is why I was so intrigued to read this book.

Front cover of the novel Liberty Street by Heather Marshall, bestselling author of Looking for Jane. The design is moody and atmospheric, blending historical and thriller elements. It shows the silhouette of a woman standing near a vintage brick building or street corner under a dim sky, evoking a mid-20th-century urban setting. The text is crisp and clear, with the title 'Liberty Street' spanning the center in clean, white typography.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

The Vibe Scorecard:

  • ☕ “I love them but they are exhausting” Teacher Energy: 10/10
  • 🕵️‍♀️ Cold Case Obsession: 9/10
  • 💀 Dark Humor as a Coping Mechanism: 9.5/10

To read the summary of the book

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction

From the publisher: From the #1 internationally bestselling author of Looking for Jane comes a riveting novel about one journalist’s harrowing journey into an infamous real-life 1960s women’s prison—and the detective who uncovers her story decades later.

Published on: June 16, 2026

Pages: 480

My Thoughts on Liberty Street:

If you offer me a book to read about a prison, I’m going to read it. Liberty Street by Heather Marshall didn’t disappoint.

The Research:

It is obvious after reading the book that Marshall did her research. Have you ever heard of Canada’s “Female Refuges Act“? I hadn’t either. The fact that a woman could be locked up for up to two years for being “incorrigible,” having a child out of wedlock, dating a man of a different race, or dealing with mental health and postpartum struggles is insane to me. A woman could be committed just because her father or husband told a judge she needed to be “reformed.” Look up the Andrew Mercer Reformatory and Prison for Women. I’m pretty sure my husband would have tried to lock me up a long time ago for my attitude. 🙂

It is definitely worth reading Marshall’s “Author’s Note” at the end of the book to understand all of the research that she completed. I’m always fascinated to learn how authors come up with their ideas. If you are listening to the audiobook, I’m not sure if that is included, so try to find a copy of the book in a bookstore. It’s worth it!

The Dual Timeline:

I love a dual timeline, but I’m not sure I loved this one. One part of the story takes place in 1961 with Emily and the prison, while the second part takes place during the 1990s and is set up like a true-crime cold case with Rachel as a detective. As a reader, you know both characters will be tied together somehow, but you aren’t sure how. While I liked both parts, I found myself completely impatient to get back to Emily’s undercover journalism plot of the prison every single time. I’m not entirely convinced Rachel’s timeline was totally needed, but the payoff at the end was still greatly enjoyed.

Warning:

There are definitely some “heavy-hitter” topics in this book. It digs deep into institutional abuse, non-consensual medical testing, psychiatric trauma, and postpartum psychosis. Some parts were incredibly difficult to read, so definitely look up the content warnings if you need to, and prepare to take a few breaks!

My Rating:

I gave this book four out of five stars. I definitely enjoyed it and would recommend it as a great read! I only took off a star because the dual timeline felt a little uneven to me, and I left the book wanting more of Emily’s life at the end. Otherwise, go get yourself a copy!

Where to Buy Liberty Street and More:

Purchase Liberty Street by Heather Marshall here

What to Read Next!

If you enjoyed Liberty Street, and you like books about prison life and/or cold cases, I would add these three incredible books to your TBR list next:

  1. The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: Both books dive deeply into the heavy, institutionalized realities of prison systems. While Liberty Street focuses on a historical reformatory for women, The River is Waiting similarly balances complex characters to portray the grueling emotional atmosphere of locked-up life.
  2.  The Waiting by Michael Connelly| Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: If you enjoyed the 1990s timeline of Liberty Street, which follows Detective Rachel Mackenzie’s true-crime style investigation into an unidentified skeleton, then you will love the procedural focus of The Waiting. It provides a full, satisfying dive into the precise detective work and cold-case puzzle-solving that Liberty Street briefly highlights in its dual timeline.
  3. Guilty Until Innocent by Robert Whitlow | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: If you appreciated the slower, detailed pacing of Emily’s immersive and eye-opening time inside the Mercer Reformatory, you will appreciate the realistic, steady build of Joe’s daily life behind bars.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine, and Heather Marshall for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

To learn more about Heather Marshall, visit her website.

 Let’s Chat!

Have you ever read a book where you loved one timeline vastly more than the other? Or better yet, fellow educators, how many of your students would be in a 1960s reformatory by lunchtime? Let me know in the comments below.


Beach Thriller by Jamie Day Review: A Story of Sisterhood, Sadness, and Suspense

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When it comes to thrillers, I love a good plot twist. What really gets me interested and hooked, though, is the emotional impact of a character’s story. In Beach Thriller by Jamie Day, Holly Sinclair walks back into her beach house where her sister was murdered twenty years ago. This broke my heart and made me pull for her from the very start. I thought this was going to be a beachy mystery, which it was, but it was also a story about sisterhood, families, and grief.

Book cover of Beach Thriller by Jamie Day. An atmospheric, overcast beach scene at dusk with a solitary, weathered wooden beach house sitting on a grassy dune overlooking a darkened ocean. Bold text reads 'Beach Thriller' in a modern font.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

🌊 The Beach Thriller Vibe Scorecard:

  • Coastal New England Atmosphere: 🌲🏡🌊 5/5
  • Heartstrings & Grief: 💔🩹🩹 4/5
  • Creepy “Watcher” Tension: 👁️📜📮 4/5
  • Old-Money Town Gossip: 🤫🍷💵 3/5
  • Pacing & “One More Chapter” Energy: ⏳🌙📖 4/5

Read the summary of the book here

Genre: Suspense Thriller, Fiction

From the publisher: The ultimate summer suspense novel is perfect for beach read lovers everywhere!
Some people lose themselves in a novel. Others lose everything.

Published on: June 9th, 2026

Pages: 368

My Thoughts on Beach Thriller:

No book is entirely perfect, and while I absolutely flew through this one, there are a few things you should know before you pack it in your beach bag. I read half of the book and listened to half of it on audio.

The Characters:

The main characters, Holly and Jade, are well-written. Neither character is perfect and both come with a lot of baggage. They are both the underdogs and, yet, strong women in their own rights. This is the reason I was cheering for both of them. I enjoyed the internal dialogue of both people, and it is what moved the story along for me.

There are many sub-characters in the story, and it was like peeking around the corner to see who I was going to suspect next. I pictured the people like characters straight out of Gilmore Girls. If you have read this book, here is how I pictured the characters:

  • Holly = definitely Lorelai who flees from her family at a young age.
  • Ethan = Luke, the hunky handyman
  • The Carmichaels = Can you say Richard and Emily Gilmore to a tee?
  • Serena – the eccentric Miss Patty
  • The Town Busker – there is one in Gilmore Girls that Lorelai and Rory pass often
  • The Watcher – I pictured Kirk. Sorry, Kirk.

The Plot:

There are dual point of views throughout the story, and I always enjoy this in a book. My favorite chapters were those from “The Watcher.“ I like short chapters, for one thing, but it definitely added suspense to the story. I also enjoyed that this seemed like two genres in one. There is the suspense and mystery part of the story where you are trying to guess what really happened the night of Anna’s murder. You also have the women’s fiction side where the story of sisterhood, tragic families, and grief plays a big part of the story as well.

The Ending:

Now, I always want to be completely transparent with you guys, and this is where the book lost a star for me, landing it at a solid four out of five stars. The build-up in this story is great, and I was intrigued the whole way through. But when it came to the finish line? Whammo. The ending wrapped up with a massive rush of details all at once. It was like listening to Lorelai Gilmore when she is talking. I’m happy to report that the conclusion makes total sense and doesn’t leave you hanging (which I always appreciate!), but it just felt a bit rushed with too much information packed into the final pages after such a beautifully paced journey.

The Audible Verdict of Beach Thriller:

I loved listening to the audible version of the book. I’m new to reviewing audiobooks, so this was my first time while listening to multiple narrators. Macmillan Audio did a wonderful job with this production. With the dual points of view throughout the book, it was nice to have different narrators.

The voice of Holly sounded just like it did in my head while reading. I might have chosen a different voice for Jade because I thought it was little low for someone her age, but she did a great job with the sarcasm. The Watcher sounded perfectly creepy.

Since this was essentially a “book within a book,” the change of characters and voices made it easier to follow along. The pacing was great, and I listened to it at normal speed.

The only drawback to the audio version might be that finish line. Because there was such a massive rush of information packed into the final chapters, I actually had to open up the kindle version to re-read what I had just heard, just to make sure I digested every clue!

So which version did I like more? I vote for both. You can’t go wrong with reading the book or listening to it.

Where to Buy Beach Thriller and More:

Purchase Beach Thriller Here!

More Book Ideas:

What to Read Next!

If you enjoyed Beach Thriller, I would add these three incredible books to your TBR list next:

  1. Ours is a Tale of Murder by Nora Murphy | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: Remember those spine-chilling chapters in Beach Thriller written from the perspective of “The Watcher”? Nora Murphy takes that specific, skin-crawling energy and turns it up to eleven. It seems like everyone has a secret to hide.
  2. The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: This is the ultimate thematic sibling to Beach Thriller. In Day’s book, Holly is a broke writer who returns home to write about her sister’s unsolved murder. In The Ghostwriter, Olivia is a broke writer on the brink of financial ruin who agrees to ghostwrite a book for her estranged father—a famous horror novelist who survived the brutal, unsolved murder of his teenage siblings decades ago.
  3. The Anniversary by Alex Finlay | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: The heart of The Anniversary is how characters cope with a horrific event decades later. The narrative structure keeps checking in on the survivors on the exact same date every year, showing the lingering aftermath of violence. Both books prove that the most compelling part of a thriller isn’t just the crime itself, but how the survivors carry that grief forward.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Jamie Day for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

To learn more about Jamie Day, or is it really “Jamie Day”?

 Let’s Chat!

I always find myself completely sucked into thrillers that center on sisterly bonds and family secrets. There is just something so emotional about picking up the pieces of a cold case! What is your absolute favorite ‘family secrets’ thriller that I need to add to my TBR pile next? Drop your recommendations below!

The Last Time We Drowned by Saratoga Schaefer: White Lotus Meets Below Deck

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A luxury yacht. Elite influencers. Endless parties. Big money. Doesn’t sound all bad, right? As soon as I saw the main character was a ‘Bookstagrammer,’ I knew I had to dive into The Last Time We Drowned by Saratoga Schaefer.

It begs the question: If you were invited to join this elite inner circle and make a life-changing amount of money, would you step on board? Even if you knew everyone on that guest list was hiding a life-changing secret?

Cover of 'The Last Time We Drowned' by Saratoga Schaefer, featuring a vibrant purple and pink ocean landscape with stylized text of the book title and author's name.

3/5 stars ★★★☆☆

My Vibe Scorecard:

  • Atmosphere: 🌊🌊🌊🌊 (High)
  • Gore Level: 🔪🔪 (Moderate)
  • Pacing: 🏃‍♀️ (Good start, slow middle, sprint finish)

To read the summary

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

From the publisher: “From Cosmopolitan’s Cosmo Reads imprint comes The Last Time We Drowned, a razor-sharp, atmospheric, and impossible to put down locked-room psychological thriller where luxury curdles into terror and survival comes at the highest price.

Six influencers. One luxury yacht. Nowhere to hide.

Published on: June 2nd, 2026

Pages: 384

My Thoughts on The Last Time We Drowned:

In our world where influencers, well, influence our every day lives, I was intrigued to read what life might look like if there were six of them on a yacht living together. I pictured the yacht like the one on the television show Below Deck – luxurious, well-equipped, and living the life of millionaires. What I didn’t picture was the toxicity that existed between the characters. Schaefer did a great job of creating characters that all had secrets to share.

The tension among the characters is what kept me reading. We see influencers and think they are living perfect lives. On this yacht, that is the opposite. With an Agatha Christie vibe, mixed with the feeling of drowning in grief and sorrow, I needed to find out what really happened at the end.

Schaefer highlights the stark contrast between being a ‘book lover’ and a ‘content creator.’ Seeing Charlie, the bookstagrammer, struggle to keep her love for reading alive while being forced into the high-glamour, high-toxicity world of lifestyle influencers was one of the most interesting parts of her character arc for me.

I enjoyed the first part of the book and the last part of the book. The middle, however, is when things started to get weird. Some parts felt forced to keep the story alive, and the ending was summed up a little too quickly for my taste. I kept waiting for that “gotcha” moment that I love in thriller books. It reminded me a lot of the show The White Lotus. Intriguing and strange at the same time.

I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars because I didn’t love it nor did I dislike it. It was a fun read.

Where to Buy The Last Time We Drowned and More:

Purchase The Last Time We Drowned

Looking for more book recommendations?

If you enjoyed this book, I highly recommend these other thriller books:

  1. Ours Is a Tale of Murder by Nora Murphy | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why I recommend it: If you loved trying to figure out what the characters in Saratoga Schaefer’s book were hiding, this suburban thriller similarly strips away ‘perfect’ facades to expose dark, dangerous secrets.
  2. One Little Mistake by Miranda Rijks | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why I recommend it: This is a fast-paced thriller about a private ranking-spreadsheet of best friends that leaks online and destroys a woman’s perfect life.
  3. The Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why I recommend it: A must-read if you loved the “high luxury turned to absolute terror” locked-room vibe of the yacht.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Cosmo Reads, and Saratoga Schaefer for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

To learn more about Saratoga Schaefer

Leave a Comment:

Do you think social media has made thrillers more interesting, or are you tired of the ‘Influencer’ trope in books?

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