This book reserves all the stars, what an amazing debut. It's a story of first love. Percy's family buy a holiday house near a lake in the beautiful cThis book reserves all the stars, what an amazing debut. It's a story of first love. Percy's family buy a holiday house near a lake in the beautiful countryside to spend their summer holidays at.
On their first stay at the lake house, Percy meets Sam, his family have a house across they lake and they live there year round. Both teens become best friends and over the coming summers when Percy visits they fall in love. We on along for their love story.
Switch to present timeline, 10 years on Percy is back visiting the lake, Sam's mother has passed away. From the onset we know something happened between Sam and Percy they haven't spoken in 10 years. When the two finally met up again in the present day, there is still that connection and love for each other, as we close the gap between the past and present, we uncover what tore them apart.
It's a beautiful story of first love, how one decision paved two different directions and how time can heal and forgive. Its heart breaking, uplifting in reminding me of the innocents and freedom of first loves.
I highly recommend this book and cant wait to see what Carly writes next.... take my money!...more
Let me say from the start this book has a lot of trigger warnings, this book is Dark, deviant misogynistic and deliciously addictive. I devoured it inLet me say from the start this book has a lot of trigger warnings, this book is Dark, deviant misogynistic and deliciously addictive. I devoured it in one day.
I only found – In My Dreams I Hold A Knife a couple of months ago and loved it, I knew it would be in my top 10 reads for the year. Now having read The Last Housewife this book is next level dark and gritty psychological thriller. It is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time! I listened to this one of audio, I’ve since ordered the Hardback copy as I need this book on my shelf.
Shay is in her 30’s living in Texas with her husband Cal. Shay loves true crime podcasts, her childhood friend Jamie has one, she’s listening to the latest episode and finds out one of her closest friends from high school died and the police are ruling it as suicide - she knows it’s not true.
Shay and Laurel have a dark past she left behind years ago. Shay goes back to her past with Jamie’s help they dig to uncover Laurels life, what they find will dig up the demons Shay thought she shed years ago. We also get Shay’s POV with podcast transcripts mixed in along the way.
That’s it, I’m not saying anymore. One of the best Thrillers I’ve read in years, it’s a powerful captivating read, I highly recommend picking it up. There are a lot of trigger warnings, so I understand I may not be for everyone.
"If you can meet with triumph and disaster And treat those two imposters just the same"
Evelyn Hugo is my favourite TJR book, it will be a hard one to "If you can meet with triumph and disaster And treat those two imposters just the same"
Evelyn Hugo is my favourite TJR book, it will be a hard one to beat. But after reading Carrie Soto Is back, Evelyn needs to make some room for Carrie on top in her ivory tower - this book is outstanding!
If you love tennis this book is next level, if you don't it will drive your passion to watch the next open.... luckily the US Open is about to begin!
Carrie Soto is a retired professional tennis player. Her fierce, focused determination had her coined as "The Battle-axe" by the press back in the 80's. Carrie at the height of her career won 20 singles grand slam titles, holding the record of most Grand slams by a women - she's the best tennis player the world has even seen.
Now 6 years on, her record is at risk of being overtaken by the powerhouse dynamite player - Nikki Chan. Carrie is at the 1994 US Open with her father watching, Nikki's in the final. She's strong, determined, gritty and with drive to succeed at all costs she's a fierce opponent. Carrie knows she has a decision to make, accept she will lose everything she's worked for OR come out of retirement for one season to defend her title.
Carrie's gritty, mongrel determination to win at all costs, Her discipline, the demands of the sport I absolutely loved it. The relationship between Carrie and her father/coach was beautiful. Bonus! I also had a chance to brush up on my Spanish reading this book. The banter between Carrie and Nikki Chan had me in stitches, two strong empowering woman what's not to love. When I finished, I just wanted to start reading it all over again.
I loved the reference to Daisy Jones in this book to, very witty dry sense of humour TJR. Thank you to the lovely team at Penguin Books Australia for my copy of this amazing book - which will for sure be in my top 10 reads for this year.
I highly recommend this book, It's bound to smash all the records and be another massive success for TJR. Im crossing my fingers it will be picked up for a movie!...more
Frankie Elkin is back in Gardner’s second book in the series. If you haven’t read the first book – “Before She Disappeared” do yourself a favour and gFrankie Elkin is back in Gardner’s second book in the series. If you haven’t read the first book – “Before She Disappeared” do yourself a favour and go read it. Its brilliant, then come back for this one. This book Frankie ventures to Wyoming, the isolated Popo Agie wilderness where Tim O’Day disappeared 5 years ago whilst camping with his 4 friends a few days before his wedding day.
Frankie arrives in the small town of Ramsey with the hope to join the annual search for Tim organised by his grieving father. Each year Martin and the camping friends venture into the wilderness in search of Tim, this is the final trip to find his remains led by local bushman Nemeth, big foot obsessive Bob, Lucinana and her cadaver dog daisy. Along with Martin and Tim’s friends they have narrowed the search area and are determined to bring Tim’s remains home.
Frankie is out of her depth with no hiking or camping experience nor gear to get her through the rugged terrain, naturally the group are reluctant to take her. I mean what value can she bring, why is she even here…. Someone in the group drops out and its agreed Frankie will take that place.
The group set out on the search, Frankie struggles to keep up with the physical demands. She gets to know the 3 friends Scott, Neil and Miggy their guilt over Tim’s disappearance to their resentment being guilted every year by Martin to join the annual search. That’s the least of their worries when the group soon realise, they have become the prey and are hunted by a serial killer.
This one kept me on the edge, I read this book in a day. Its full of suspense, the atmosphere, remote wilderness, and a serial killer on your tail will keep you on the hook. I loved the introduction back to Frankie she’s a complex character, haunted by trauma from her past which we get more insight to in this book. I was invested in the characters in this book and was rooting for their survival to get out alive.
Exhilarating, suspenseful crime read, I highly recommend this one and cannot wait for the next book in this series. ...more
What a brilliant read, this book is for sure going to be in my top reads for the year.
Anna is grieving the loss of her fiancé Ben to suicide 10 monthsWhat a brilliant read, this book is for sure going to be in my top reads for the year.
Anna is grieving the loss of her fiancé Ben to suicide 10 months earlier. They had planned to sail the Caribbean together. Struggling to find a way forward Anna quits her job and impulsively decides to take their sailboat and voyage alone on their intended sail plan of the Caribbean.
The weather turns after a sketchy nights sail Anna realises it’s too dangerous to sail alone. At her next stop she hires Keane, an accomplished sailor. Keane is also struggling to reconcile his own personal demons. The romance is a slow burn, it’s a beautiful character driven novel, with the backdrop of sailing the Caribbean it was a great read and I highly recommend this one....more
Kristin Hannah is a masterful storyteller. I’ve read 7 of her books now and loved every single one of them. But I have to say Historical Fiction is heKristin Hannah is a masterful storyteller. I’ve read 7 of her books now and loved every single one of them. But I have to say Historical Fiction is her specialty. The Four Winds is set in the 1930’s North America during The Dust Bowl era and The Great Depression darkest times.
The hardship, poverty, starvation, prejudice in this story is difficult to read at times. We follow the hardship of the Martinelli family from Texas once thriving on their family farm, the consecutive years of drought has broken the great plains. The family fight to keep their land, the crops have long died, there is little water to survive then the dust bowl arrives to take everything that is left.
Many families give up and head west to the promised land of milk and honey - California. The promised land offers jobs, security to put food on the table, the end of uncertainty and suffering. Elsa Martinelli must make a choice, after her son Ant almost dies from a lung infection from the unrelenting dust storms. She packs up her family to head west in search of a better life.
California is not the promised land, they are ostracised on arrival and face endless prejudice and injustice. Elsa has two children to support, her gritty determination and strength is inspirational. This is a difficult book to read and it took me a while to get through it, it’s a harrowing, powerful, heartbreaking story. Through all the adversity and hardship, the human spirit can endure through friendship, compassion and love.
I learnt so much about the Dust Bowl era and The Great Depression. Whilst Elsa is a fictional character in the book, she represents Kristin’s extensive research into the era through researching memoirs and documents of thousands of courageous women who went west in search of a better life and survived. Elsa’s journey will stay with me for a long time, I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan Australia and Kristin Hannah for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review....more
Captivating, emotive twisted psychological thriller, I was hooked from the first page. It begins with Georgina “Geo” Shaw, Bright young PharmaceuticalCaptivating, emotive twisted psychological thriller, I was hooked from the first page. It begins with Georgina “Geo” Shaw, Bright young Pharmaceutical executive at the top of her game giving evidence in court against the notorious serial killer dubbed the “Sweetbay Strangler” Calvin James.
Geo’s evidence is integral to the case to put Calvin away, but she’s not so innocent, dark secrets she supressed from when she was 16 years old are revealed masterfully throughout the book. Jennifer drops the little nuggets one by one and we learn Geo’s part in a murder that has hung like a dark cloud over her childhood town. For Geo’s cooperation in court her sentence is negotiated to 5 years in prison.
“In every story, there’s a hero and a villain. Sometimes one person can be both.”
This book is so dark and twisted it’s an emotional roller coaster and I ate it up. I found Geo’s character compelling and disturbing. Her ingenuity and strength shown as we got a peek into Prison life was one of my favourite sections in this book. Be warned there is disturbing dark material around rape, abuse and domestic violence in this book. The storyline is told from multiple perspectives, it’s a small cast of characters so easy to keep track as the book moves back and forth in time.
This is the first book I read of Jennifer’s and I’m keen to read more. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy dark, gritty psychological thrillers. I read this one as buddy read with my friend Tanya There are so many multiple perspectives in this book, we really enjoyed discussing this one afterwards. It would make a great book club read for the Spooky season! 4.5 stars...more
The writing is superb, its the third book I have read by John and it’s by far my favorite
This book kept me in suspense, each time I thought I knew wheThe writing is superb, its the third book I have read by John and it’s by far my favorite
This book kept me in suspense, each time I thought I knew where it was going, nope I was wrong the rug kept getting pulled out from under my feet. This book is super twisty and will mess with your head. There were several gasps and No how could you reading this book…… It’s one crazy ride.
It’s a Mother/Daughter story. Living in the same house, each night Nina prepares and sits down to enjoy dinner with her mum Maggie. They discuss their day - Nina talks about her work she’s a librarian and shares the events of her day and Maggie shares the local neighborhood gossip.
After dinner, Maggie picks up the chain that is attached to the bolt around her ankle and makes her way back up the stairs to the attic where she has been held prisoner for the past 2 years.
Nina locks the door. She cannot forgive Maggie for all the things she did. And she will never allow her to leave…...
I'm not going to give anything away. It’s a fabulous read and I highly recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, Amazon Publishing UK and John Marrs for my copy in exchange for my honest review.
I read this book in one sitting I could not put it down. So beautifully written, the courage, love, compassioLove is the most powerful thing there is…
I read this book in one sitting I could not put it down. So beautifully written, the courage, love, compassion, vulnerability and sense of community in this book. It will be one of my favorite reads of this year.
The atmosphere in this book its dark and eerie. It’s a snowy November morning in the small mountainous town of Somerset. School is about to begin, when 16-year-old Rafi walking in school grounds with his younger brother Basi hears a bomb exploding. He is certain it is a bomb Rafi is suffering PTSD having fled Syria a year earlier with his younger brother to the UK. Rafi raises the alarm to Headmaster Matthew Marr the school immediately goes into lock-down as an amber alert is enforced.
The school is taken under siege, by masked men, gunfire has erupted. The teachers are quick to enforce lockdown and take cover with students inside the school as the masked gunmen pace up and down the hallways taunting and terrorizing them.
The siege takes place over three hours, it will all be over after three hours either way. The book give us different POVs from student and teachers in separate locations throughout the school, giving us insight to what they are experiencing. We see the harrowing levels the teachers go to in protecting the children and the students the love, courage and compassion they show under horrific circumstances.
There is so much I loved about this book, Rafi and his love for his younger brother Basi the trauma they escaped and their heartbreaking journey to the UK. The selfless actions of Neil Forbright and the kind-hearted headmaster Mr Marr.
It is such an amazing book, its traumatic, emotive, engrossing and unforgettable.
Thank you for Penguin Random House and Rosamund Lupton for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review....more
Stayed up late to finish this book, couldn’t put it down…
Cleverly woven story that centers around three individuals Ursula, Gareth and Alice. They arStayed up late to finish this book, couldn’t put it down…
Cleverly woven story that centers around three individuals Ursula, Gareth and Alice. They are strangers to one another. All three are facing tough challenges in their lives, varying issues and problems to contend with.
Ursula is a delivery driver, she is grieving the loss of her partner, struggling to cope and face what happened that frightful day she has become addicted to stealing from her friends, flatmates and the local shopping mall. Gareth a security guard at the same mall, he is having issues at work, he also cares for his mother whose health is ailing from advanced dementia. Alice manages a clothing store in the center and has her own personal struggles to deal with.
There is a common theme around loneliness explored in this book and we see sliding door moments with each character if they took a different route in dealing with their issues or problems what the outcome may have been.
I loved how the characters all have the common connection of the shopping mall, there are instances through the book where they cross paths without even knowing it like ships in the night. All three ultimately collide, leading up to a series of events where they will need to work together to ensure they all get out alive.
There are few sub stories in here I would have liked to explore even more, we got a little taste but I wanted more of Paul’s story in particular. My favorite character was Ursula by far she was so interesting. If you love thrillers like me this book is next level – Chilling, tense, fast paced it has it all.
..... Remember to check under your bed before you go to Sleep! (Cheeky little plug in there for Callys' previous book)
Thank you to Net Galley and C.L. Taylor for my advanced copy. Expected release date April 2nd in USA.
I buddy read this book with NZLisaM, we both really enjoyed this book. It would make a great book club read...more
Outstanding, breathtaking, hilarious and profoundly moving gem of a book
This is the first book I read from Katherine Center and it will not be my lastOutstanding, breathtaking, hilarious and profoundly moving gem of a book
This is the first book I read from Katherine Center and it will not be my last. The story focuses on Cassie, she is strong willed, stubborn, driven (dog with a bone) firefighter. In a male dominated trade most women don’t make it, it’s a tough slog having to prove yourself time and time again…. One step forward, three steps back.
Her drive and stubbornness to prove herself she is just as strong, brave and dependable as her fellow male firefighters. With all her focus on work she has alienated her personal life, she doesn’t date she’s not one of those girls that gets all giddy over romance and falling in love.
All this changes when Cassie moves to Boston to take care of her ailing mother. She has to start again, new station she needs to prove herself all over again, she thought Austin was difficult it pales in comparison to the male dominated Boston Fire station…..
I loved Cassie’s journey and personal growth in this book, learning to let go, forgive and be open to new possibilities. The crash course in life as a fireman was a highlight, so interesting to learn more about this fascinating trade, I take my hat off to the brave firefighters who put themselves at risk to help others.
This is such a profound, heart-warming and hilarious book. I’m not a fan of romance books, with the humour in this book I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend.
Spoiler alert, it is in my top 10 reads for this year....more
What a thrill ride, my favorite book from Shari Lapena
This book had my hooked from the very first page..... a gruesome murder, very entertaining it haWhat a thrill ride, my favorite book from Shari Lapena
This book had my hooked from the very first page..... a gruesome murder, very entertaining it had me flipping the pages of my kindle so fast til the very last page. And let me tell you that last page I was swiping looking for more..... Shari dangled that carrot.
Set in a quiet suburbia, its a family neighborhood everyone knows every one but do they? When Amanda is brutally murdered the police start interviewing the neighbors. This tight knit community starts to unravel and people are quick to point fingers.... not all is what it seems, the police uncover their secrets, affairs, breaking and entering ......As the police investigation tightens we think we know who the murderer is but more layers are revealed and so begins the game of cat and mouse....
This book had me on the edge of my seat, finishing it this morning around 3am. I highly recommend this book, it is my favorite so far from Shari, can wait to see whats next.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin Random House and Shari Lapena for my review copy in exchange for an honest review....more
100 Teen boys walk until there is only one left standing "The Winner"....... not great odds, if you are not the last boy you are dead one way of anoth100 Teen boys walk until there is only one left standing "The Winner"....... not great odds, if you are not the last boy you are dead one way of another.
I really enjoyed this book. 100 Teen boys enter the yearly competition - The Long Walk. One winner is crowned, and they can have anything they want for the rest of their lives. I really wanted to know more back story of the walk, how it came to be, when the time is set - clearly sometime in the future. But also the environment they are living in.... what leads these young boys to enter a contest with pitiful odds of success.
Rules: The 100 participants must keep a steady pace covering 4 miles per hour, there are soldiers on the side of road all the way - watching, observing and making sure you obey the rules. If you stop you are eliminated ..... not just from the race, you are shot dead by one of the soldiers.
There are 3 warnings, if you drop pace or stop for a few seconds.... these "warnings" reset every hour..... to stay alive keep moving. If you stop you may not be able to get back up again before your 3 warnings are out.
Things start to fall apart quickly......some fall from exposure to the elements, sheer exhaustion, hunger, cramps……. Despair of the situation. The boys start to question each other why they are here, why they entered…. Is there even a winner at the end?
There are crowds of people on the sidelines cheering them on OR are they there to get enjoyment out of watching them die. This book really makes you think, is there even a prize or is it entertainment – watch 100 teens walk to their deaths?
It spirals from desolation into insanity. It is such a great book, It is an engrossing read, the ending, hmmm I wanted more – but its typical king. I recommend this book…. I give it 4.5 stars...more
I have read Jane’s first two novels (Aaron Falk Series) and really enjoyed these, I thought The Lost Man was another Falk adventure…. This is a standaI have read Jane’s first two novels (Aaron Falk Series) and really enjoyed these, I thought The Lost Man was another Falk adventure…. This is a standalone novel and very different from the other two.
The setting is in outback Queensland, Jane is masterful at describing the harsh conditions living in outback Australia, the heat, the dry, the daily struggle in raising the cattle to turn a profit in this harsh climate most families give up and move away.
The book centres around the Bright family. Nathan our main character, divorced, dad to teenager Xander, he is the eldest of the 3 brothers who has been exiled from his community for a split second decision made years ago, he is the black sheep of the family.
Cameron, married, two kids, running the family ranch very successfully is the golden son, then we have Bub the youngest – he is still trying to find his way or path.
At the beginning of the book, Cameron’s body is found at eerie Stockman’s Grave he has succumbed to the harsh conditions of the outback, his vehicle is found nearby stocked with litres of water and food that would have saved his life, but nothing has been touched. Did he take his own life, or did something more sinister happen?
I really enjoyed this book, it’s not an edge of your seat thriller, it’s a slow burn that really makes you think how well you can really know the ones closest to you, or anyone really…
This is a character driven novel; I thoroughly enjoyed this one and highly recommend. This was a buddy read with Aina from @readbydusk – there was a lot of discussion afterwards with this book. There is so much character depth in this book it makes a great book club read...more
I read this book in one sitting – I could not put it down. Solid 5 stars for me
I have wanted to read this book for so long, it took ages for it to be I read this book in one sitting – I could not put it down. Solid 5 stars for me
I have wanted to read this book for so long, it took ages for it to be released here in Australia and I knew I was going to devour it in one sitting. What a ride it is brilliant.
I loved Final Girls, Thriller/Horror novel. His second book not so much, it was a little repetitive and some story lines didn’t go anywhere, I had high expectations going into this one and it did not disappoint. This book is more Adult Thriller, the writing is just superb.
Jules is down and out on her luck, having lost her job early in the day to coming home and finding her boyfriend in bed…. Well ya know. Jules is now staying with her best friend until she can get back on her feet again, find a new job to be able to pay for a new apartment. She is an independent woman and doesn’t want to outstay her welcome she needs money……..So she answers an ominous ad in the paper to apartment sit at the opulent Bartholomew apartment building in the heart of Manhattan.
The Apartment is stunning it overlooks central park the views are spectacular. She is to apartment sit for 3 months and in return will receive a large sum of cash in payment. As they say when it sounds too good to be true……… Jules accepts the job and moves in.
The apartment comes with some unusual rules she needs to adhere to but all she can think about is the money. This building has deep, dark secrets from the past that come to light the more she uncovers she is unknowingly putting herself as risk of never leaving.
I’m not going to go into anymore detail as I don’t want to spoil it. I was on the edge of my seat with this book, I thought I knew where it was going, but no Riley Sager pulls out the big guns again that ending… I did not predict that. This would be a great book to read for book club the writing is superb and has great discussion points. I highly recommend picking this up....more
This fast-paced edge of your seat thriller will keep you guessing until the very end.
Quincy Carpenter is the sole survivor of a horrific massacre wherThis fast-paced edge of your seat thriller will keep you guessing until the very end.
Quincy Carpenter is the sole survivor of a horrific massacre where she and her 4 college buddies took a vacation to the remote Pine Cottage……that fateful night her friends were slaughtered by HIM……. the media are ravenous for the scoop and coin Quincy as the new…..“Final Girl”
To sell more papers the press aligns Quincy with two other “Final Girls” Samantha and Lisa who survived and came out the other side from their own horrific nightmares. Lisa is a rock for Quincy and helps her to rebuild her life.
The story is told from Quincy’s POV in the present (10 years on from the massacre) and the events leading up to the tragic night at Pine Cottage. Sager drip feeds the reader clues and juicy carrots of what Quincy has forgotten or suppressed.
Quincy is not the most reliable narrator; she doesn’t remember much from that night and is heavily dependent on Xanax as her coping mechanism.
When Lisa is found dead in her apartment…… and Sam arrives on her doorstep. Is there someone out there who wants to kill the Final Girls?
This is a roller coaster ride of suspense and it did not disappoint. I read this book in two sittings and thoroughly enjoyed it. I gave it 5 stars...more
Enthralling, creepy physiological thriller - 5 STAR debut
What a thrill ride, absolutely loved this book….. I loved the narration of the book told throEnthralling, creepy physiological thriller - 5 STAR debut
What a thrill ride, absolutely loved this book….. I loved the narration of the book told through the husbands POV where you never find out his real name.
We have the typical suburban family – wife Millicent, the husband and two teenage kids. There was so much mystery and suspense in this one, I thought I knew where it was going and nope I was completely wrong….. Well that’s one way to spice up a marriage, but that wife was seriously cray cray.
To go into detail what the book is about would ruin it, it is best to go in blind it is a fabulous read, lots of twists and turns…. No gore as such more psychological thriller which I think is the best kind….
This is definitely a book to read in a couple of sittings you need to pay attention, it all ties back and will be a more enjoyable read.
I loved the alter ego and that ending just icing. I will remember this book every time I get a paper cut :)
Thank you for the ARC of this book from Edelweiss, Penguin Publishing Group and Samantha Downing in exchange for an honest review....more
This is a faced paced, keep you guessing, edgy cat n mouse psychological thriller.
I was hooked when I readWOW WOW - This book deserves all the stars!
This is a faced paced, keep you guessing, edgy cat n mouse psychological thriller.
I was hooked when I read the jacket, two strangers meet at an airport bar, waiting for their very delayed flight. They start talking, Ted confesses his intention to kill his wife after catching her in the act with another man…… the other stranger (Lily) offers to help him kill her…….
It is best to go into the book without reading reviews. You think you know where this is going, but you don’t. There are lots of twists and shocked gasps (from me anyway) and I absolutely loved the finale YES!
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