Mona Awad’s books can best be described as a lit fic wtf, and I say that in the best possible way because her books always have a clear and p4.5 stars
Mona Awad’s books can best be described as a lit fic wtf, and I say that in the best possible way because her books always have a clear and powerful message. They’re also always deliciously devious and so much fun! I don’t know too much about Awad’s journey as an author, but I first read her books with her chaotic novel, BUNNY. It’s so much fun and bizarre and a total blast! Her books aren’t for everyone, but I was excited to pick up her upcoming novel, ROUGE.
ROUGE takes on the beauty industry in this Eyes Wide Shut meets Snow White (I also got Death Becomes Her vibes slightly too) with the protagonist Mirabelle (nicknamed Belle) and her mother Noelle. Living in Montreal, Belle’s relationship with her mother is estranged to say the least, but when she dies, Belle flies over to her mother’s apartment in San Diego to prepare funeral arrangements. There, she is embraced by this exclusive spa called La Maison de Méduse, which is apparently where her beauty obsessed mother would regularly spend her time. There, she learns more about her mother’s obsession with mirrors and her appearance, and how dangerous the path her mother led before her demise.
ROUGE touches on unrealistic beauty standards, race, mother/daughter dynamics, and the mental stability of those who place superficial aesthetics above all else. This book is dark, wildly entertaining, and thought-provoking. ROUGE is the perfect infusion of horror, dark comedy, and social commentary. I loved this one so much and it’s definitely Awad’s best. I battled with giving it a 5 star or a 4 star, which led me to the only 4.5 star read I’ve had all year. I still am struggling with whether this rating is right or not, but readers will definitely be polarized on this one. I cannot WAIT to see this as a movie, because the imagery that Awad uses through the setting (you’ll know what I mean when it gets to the jellyfish) is absolutely remarkable. I’ll be tuning into Mona Awad’s next story. STARS: 4.5, PUB: 9/12
Merged review:
4.5 stars
Mona Awad’s books can best be described as a lit fic wtf, and I say that in the best possible way because her books always have a clear and powerful message. They’re also always deliciously devious and so much fun! I don’t know too much about Awad’s journey as an author, but I first read her books with her chaotic novel, BUNNY. It’s so much fun and bizarre and a total blast! Her books aren’t for everyone, but I was excited to pick up her upcoming novel, ROUGE.
ROUGE takes on the beauty industry in this Eyes Wide Shut meets Snow White (I also got Death Becomes Her vibes slightly too) with the protagonist Mirabelle (nicknamed Belle) and her mother Noelle. Living in Montreal, Belle’s relationship with her mother is estranged to say the least, but when she dies, Belle flies over to her mother’s apartment in San Diego to prepare funeral arrangements. There, she is embraced by this exclusive spa called La Maison de Méduse, which is apparently where her beauty obsessed mother would regularly spend her time. There, she learns more about her mother’s obsession with mirrors and her appearance, and how dangerous the path her mother led before her demise.
ROUGE touches on unrealistic beauty standards, race, mother/daughter dynamics, and the mental stability of those who place superficial aesthetics above all else. This book is dark, wildly entertaining, and thought-provoking. ROUGE is the perfect infusion of horror, dark comedy, and social commentary. I loved this one so much and it’s definitely Awad’s best. I battled with giving it a 5 star or a 4 star, which led me to the only 4.5 star read I’ve had all year. I still am struggling with whether this rating is right or not, but readers will definitely be polarized on this one. I cannot WAIT to see this as a movie, because the imagery that Awad uses through the setting (you’ll know what I mean when it gets to the jellyfish) is absolutely remarkable. I’ll be tuning into Mona Awad’s next story. STARS: 4.5, PUB: 9/12
Merged review:
4.5 stars
Mona Awad’s books can best be described as a lit fic wtf, and I say that in the best possible way because her books always have a clear and powerful message. They’re also always deliciously devious and so much fun! I don’t know too much about Awad’s journey as an author, but I first read her books with her chaotic novel, BUNNY. It’s so much fun and bizarre and a total blast! Her books aren’t for everyone, but I was excited to pick up her upcoming novel, ROUGE.
ROUGE takes on the beauty industry in this Eyes Wide Shut meets Snow White (I also got Death Becomes Her vibes slightly too) with the protagonist Mirabelle (nicknamed Belle) and her mother Noelle. Living in Montreal, Belle’s relationship with her mother is estranged to say the least, but when she dies, Belle flies over to her mother’s apartment in San Diego to prepare funeral arrangements. There, she is embraced by this exclusive spa called La Maison de Méduse, which is apparently where her beauty obsessed mother would regularly spend her time. There, she learns more about her mother’s obsession with mirrors and her appearance, and how dangerous the path her mother led before her demise.
ROUGE touches on unrealistic beauty standards, race, mother/daughter dynamics, and the mental stability of those who place superficial aesthetics above all else. This book is dark, wildly entertaining, and thought-provoking. ROUGE is the perfect infusion of horror, dark comedy, and social commentary. I loved this one so much and it’s definitely Awad’s best. I battled with giving it a 5 star or a 4 star, which led me to the only 4.5 star read I’ve had all year. I still am struggling with whether this rating is right or not, but readers will definitely be polarized on this one. I cannot WAIT to see this as a movie, because the imagery that Awad uses through the setting (you’ll know what I mean when it gets to the jellyfish) is absolutely remarkable. I’ll be tuning into Mona Awad’s next story. STARS: 4.5, PUB: 9/12...more
Luke Dumas is an amazing storyteller. I loved his writing ever since he horror debut, A History of Fear, that made my top reads of 2022. One 3.5 stars
Luke Dumas is an amazing storyteller. I loved his writing ever since he horror debut, A History of Fear, that made my top reads of 2022. One thing you know about this author is that he will fully invest time and research into coming up with a story and THE PALEONTOLOGIST is no exception. The story is centered around Paleontologist Dr. Simon Nealy (and Covid-19) and his journey after accepting a position at natural history museum in his Pennsylvania hometown. The same museum where his six-year old sister Morgan went missing. Simon is adamant that she was abducted, but the case went cold years ago with no further developments. Simon begins his work at the museum during the heat of Covid and while he is preparing for the museum's reemergence post-lockdowns, Simon begins to notice very peculiar occurrences in the museum that he cannot explain. When he finds his predecessor's diary, he begins to see that these strange occurrences are not just a coincidence.
THE PALEONTOLOGIST is a heavy book filled with paleontology technical speak—you can tell the author did his research! If I didn't know, I'd say that Luke Dumas was a paleontologist himself! It's more of a Simone St. James read than his last book, but this book provides the slow burn horror that fans should expect. I'm excited for the author's next venture into horror and I hope that he continues to tell stories that are unique and unlike anything I've ever read before.
Merged review:
3.5 stars
Luke Dumas is an amazing storyteller. I loved his writing ever since he horror debut, A History of Fear, that made my top reads of 2022. One thing you know about this author is that he will fully invest time and research into coming up with a story and THE PALEONTOLOGIST is no exception. The story is centered around Paleontologist Dr. Simon Nealy (and Covid-19) and his journey after accepting a position at natural history museum in his Pennsylvania hometown. The same museum where his six-year old sister Morgan went missing. Simon is adamant that she was abducted, but the case went cold years ago with no further developments. Simon begins his work at the museum during the heat of Covid and while he is preparing for the museum's reemergence post-lockdowns, Simon begins to notice very peculiar occurrences in the museum that he cannot explain. When he finds his predecessor's diary, he begins to see that these strange occurrences are not just a coincidence.
THE PALEONTOLOGIST is a heavy book filled with paleontology technical speak—you can tell the author did his research! If I didn't know, I'd say that Luke Dumas was a paleontologist himself! It's more of a Simone St. James read than his last book, but this book provides the slow burn horror that fans should expect. I'm excited for the author's next venture into horror and I hope that he continues to tell stories that are unique and unlike anything I've ever read before....more
One thing about Lisa Unger and her novels, you never know what to expect! THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B not only has her best cover yet, but it's her most suspOne thing about Lisa Unger and her novels, you never know what to expect! THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B not only has her best cover yet, but it's her most suspense-oozed mystery/thriller I've read.
When Rosie and her husband Chad get news about Chad's uncle passing away and leaving them his luxury condominium in the historic Windermere—a pre-war building in Murray Hill, the couple sees the light at the end of the tunnel. They're both trying to survive in New York and Rosie is working on her next book in hopes that she can build upon her last book's success. Rosie and Chad jump at this opportunity, but Rosie can't help but wonder why they were given this home in his will and not his own daughter. Why does the Windermere have such an interesting cast of tenants? Why is the doorman constantly watching them? Rosie begins to suspect something more sinister could be at play...
THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B is the perfect cocktail of Simone St. James and Riley Sager's Lock Every Door. This suspense-driven novel is ghastly unique to Unger's previous novels, but still provides the bingeworthy adventures you've come to love from the author. Teetering between supernatural and thriller, you may just be surprised how this novel turns out. As usual, Lisa Unger's books will leave you wanting to discuss and debate—a perfect book club choice! As you may expect from the author, THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B will keep you talking.
Lastly, after reading the acknowledgements, I appreciated how close to the story that Lisa was and how the journey in crafting THE NEW COUPLE IN 5B came to be. I always pay attention to the afterword or acknowledgements section because you just never know what the author will divulge to readers! Lisa Unger continues to be a staple in my reading and I can't wait to see what she gives readers next!...more
This book wasn't on my radar at all until the bookstagrammer @robyn_reads1 told me this is a book that I would absolutely love and I needed to read. OThis book wasn't on my radar at all until the bookstagrammer @robyn_reads1 told me this is a book that I would absolutely love and I needed to read. Once I read the synopsis, I was confused because fantasy isn't a genre that I normally pick up, but I trusted her judgement, and boy did it pay off!
I won't go far into the details of the book, but it is centered around a big cast of characters, but mainly Cassie Andrews. Cassie works in a New York City bookshop and she lives a pretty boring life centered around reading and keeping to herself. When one of her favorite customers, an old man named Mr. Webber, passes away, he leaves her the book that he has in his hands specifically for her. When Cassie realizes that this is no ordinary book (in fact, it's the Book of Doors), she tries to interpret its unique inscriptions and drawings to no avail. Once Cassie realizes this book can make any door into EVERY door, she begins to see the book's power. Through this new magical book, Cassie and her friend Izzy meet a "librarian" named Drummond Fox who warns that Cassie is in danger now that she has this book in her possession. She's in danger from hunters and collectors who want to use the book for their own selfish interests, some more malevolent than others. Cassie's enemies list begins to grow, with each new adversary more intimidating than the next.
This book was the most fun journey I've ever had with a fantasy book, ever. If you like Blake Crouch's Recursion, the television show The Magicians, and anything by V.E. Schwab, THE BOOK OF DOORS should be a top priority for you to read. Just when I thought that I knew where the book was going, it changed course! The book isn't scared to shy away from the dramatics and violence, but ultimately it is an adventure of a lifetime. I will never forget this book, nor will I ever not recommend THE BOOK OF DOORS. Some books are worth killing for and the BOOK OF DOORS will show you why. I can't believe that this book is a debut and I can't believe that I've read one of my favorite books for 2024 in 2023!...more
INVISIBLE WOMAN is a suspense-driven drama that reflects the MeToo Movement in Hollywood. Centered around filmmaker Joni Ackerman and her family, thisINVISIBLE WOMAN is a suspense-driven drama that reflects the MeToo Movement in Hollywood. Centered around filmmaker Joni Ackerman and her family, this story shows the complexities of marriage and friendship. Joni and her husband Paul have moved from Los Angeles to Brooklyn so Paul can launch a production studio, but their marriage is rocked when an associate of his has been linked to sexual assault and rape of multiple women in Hollywood. Joni decides to speak with her friend Val who was raped by this influential industry executive when she was younger, but when she's reluctant to speak publicly about it, Joni pushes even harder to get her to speak up. Not knowing how much involved Joni will actually be if Val speaks up, they are contentious on how to move forward. Speaking up against powerful people can have its own consequences.
This book is very powerful and the writing was great. It took a bit (around 70ish pages) for the story to pick up and I ultimately guessed everything correctly with how it would unfold, but that didn't take away from being invested in the story. This isn't a thriller (maybe a light mystery), but more so a character-driven suspense drama. I read this book in two sittings and it's fairly easy to get into, so if you're looking for something to binge, definitely consider INVISIBLE WOMAN. Please don't read more synopsis information about this book as it is a bit heavy on the spoilers. I would definitely read more from Katia Lief in the future. ...more
If you enjoyed Benjamin Stevenson's debut novel, Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, don't be surprised to learn that his sequel, EVERYONE ON THIf you enjoyed Benjamin Stevenson's debut novel, Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, don't be surprised to learn that his sequel, EVERYONE ON THIS TRAIN IS A SUSPECT, will be right up your alley.
The vibe for this one definitely felt more Murder on the Orient Express meets Knives Out, but it's a journey that you'll enjoy for sure. The story is centered again around Ernest Cunningham so expect a lot of deadpan laughs that break the fourth wall. When Ernest is invited to a writing festival, he boards the Ghan (a famous train in Australia that will take him across the country). Ernest sees lots of industry peers on this train, but when one of them is murdered, everyone quickly decides to get involved. A locked-room mystery begins to evolve, with a cast of ridiculous amateur sleuths trying to investigate, which may cause more havoc than good. The journey is very immersive, like you're watching the entire events unfold while on the train.
There's a lot of writer speak, which is a trope I hate. Sorry, I find it an easy out for authors to talk about writing and publishing and all that jazz, so I tend to get bored easily with it. For a good chunk of the book, I was slowly realizing that the writer talk was boring me, but Ernest is such a fun protagonist that I wanted to keep going. That being said, the ending definitely picks up and the ending is a fabulous way to end the mystery. I loved, then I didn't love, and eventually I ended on very much liking EVERYONE ON THIS TRAIN IS A SUSPECT. I am unsure how Ernest and his shenanigans will continue after this release, but I'll be aboard for the ride....more
HOT SPRINGS DRIVE is my first read by Lindsay Hunter, but will definitely not be my last. Disclaimer, I did the audiobook for this one via @4.5 stars!
HOT SPRINGS DRIVE is my first read by Lindsay Hunter, but will definitely not be my last. Disclaimer, I did the audiobook for this one via @librofm and I'm not entirely sure if my experience listening and reading would be the same. The story is centered around a group of neighbors and friends, specifically Jackie and her best friend Theresa. The two are not only best friends, but they're going through the trials and tribulations of motherhood and marriage. Their bond is tight, but when Jackie ends up having an affair with Theresa's husband, their lives are changed forever.
I'm purposely being vague about this one, so don't read any spoilers. HOT SPRINGS DRIVE is basically about a neighborhood all having hardcore sex with each other and then someone dies. I won't got into it anymore than that so don't ask! I absolutely had a blast with this one, but the plot is mainly internalized characterizations for all the characters the author presents us. This book dives into sex and sexuality, role of the family unit, lust and desire, and the lengths people will go to in order to protect their peace. I very rarely give 4.5 stars for a book, but I just had so much fun with this one. Lindsay Hunter is officially an auto-read author for me from here on out. ...more
Cate Quinn’s newest thriller is set in a rehabilitation center located in the Pacific Northwest, named “The Clinic.” Our main protagonist, Meg works fCate Quinn’s newest thriller is set in a rehabilitation center located in the Pacific Northwest, named “The Clinic.” Our main protagonist, Meg works for a casino in LA, going undercover to try and catch scammers and cheaters. When Meg sees a text from her famous actress sister, Haley, she ignores it because of her strained relationship with her. Meg has her own issues to deal with—whether it’s pills or vodka—but she isn’t ready to handle that right now. When news breaks that Haley has died while at The Clinic, Meg starts to understand the texts she just receives and wants to figure out what happened. Meg decides to go undercover at The Clinic to find out, but Meg has her own demons to battle and this luxury rehabilitation center will do everything in its power to keep their secrets within their walls.
This book was really fun, but way too long. I was hooked throughout the entire novel, but I wish they cut a good 100 pages, especially in the second quarter of the story. It takes a lot to build up, but when it’s finally there, the story is a lot of fun! The book juggles multiple point of views, but Meg is my favorite and (IMO) the most important. This book deals heavily with addiction and mental health and I felt that this book will hit closer to home for readers. The rehab center, The Clinic, was creepy and had an atmospheric setting—10s across the board for creepy vibes! Overall THE CLINIC feels more personal than other thrillers I’ve read recently and I’ll definitely stay tuned and see what’s next for Cate Quinn....more
First and foremost, I was immediately captivated by Celine Saintclare's debut novel, SUGAR, BABY by the cover alone. Both the US and UK covers are droFirst and foremost, I was immediately captivated by Celine Saintclare's debut novel, SUGAR, BABY by the cover alone. Both the US and UK covers are drop dead gorgeous and will be covers I'll always obsess over. The story follows 21 year old Agnes, a mixed-race housekeeper who spends her money on nightlife and enjoys the company of men who don't respect her. That is, until she meets Emily. Emily is the daughter of one of her clients and she lives in London as a model and a sugar baby. Emily dates and spends time with older, rich, men for money. When Agnes sees the lifestyle that this has afforded Emily, she quickly follows her lead. Emily takes Agnes under her wing and transforms her into a sugar baby of her own.
Agnes' life completely changes into this world of sex, power, and extravagance. She moves in with Emily and her sugar baby peers in London and the group works to make money together as a team of their own. Money and discretion at all costs. As Agnes dives deeper into this luxurious, dark world of its own, she starts seeing that maybe the life she once had wasn't necessarily so bad. As she ventures into one precarious relationship to the next, Agnes finds her own path towards self-discovery.
This book is not a thriller, so do not go into it thinking that. It's a contemporary literary fiction, with elements of drama and romance. SUGAR, BABY dives into many different topics, specifically sexuality, religious trauma, sex work, female sexuality, mental health, power dynamics between men and women, race, the beauty industry, and female relationships. This book touches a lot of different topics and it personalizes sex work in a way that I haven't seen other books that talk about it. I felt very invested in how the story will unfold and it's really showcasing the honest depiction of sex work in a non-judgmental way. This book is hard to review because I don't want to give much away, but there's a side of vulnerability that comes from reading about Agnes' journey. I cannot wait to see what Celine Saintclare has up her sleeve next—what an incredible debut novel!...more
Timothy Janovsky has been such a huge presence in the MM romance world and his latest novel, THE (FAKE) DATING GAME has further cemented himself as anTimothy Janovsky has been such a huge presence in the MM romance world and his latest novel, THE (FAKE) DATING GAME has further cemented himself as an auto read for MM romance fans. This novel will be released in January 2024 and it should be at the top of your TBR.
When Holden James gets the opportunity to join reality television competition, Madcap Market, he faces a breakup and painful demise of his long-term boyfriend. Without a partner for the show, Holden is possibly disqualified for the new season. That is, until he meets Leo Min, the concierge at the hotel he is residing at while filming. Leo is the perfect candidate for the show and the chemistry between the two is undeniable. Leo can be the replacement partner for Holden's chance at winning this competition, but when emotions run high, things may not be as easily forged as you may think.
THE (FAKE) DATING GAME is steamy AF (seriously, it might be the steamiest book I've read this year) and unequivocally gay—GAYME ON (ok, I'm corny). If you like steamy gay romance, reality competition shows, or just fun escapist reads, this is your book! This book is the perfect combination of Alexis Hall meets C. Travis Rice (Christopher Rice)'s Sapphire Cove series. I cannot wait to see what Timothy Janovsky has for readers next. ...more
What drew me to immediately pick up Nalini Singh's newest book, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN EIGHT was the cover (guilty!). I loveeee covers with mysteriousWhat drew me to immediately pick up Nalini Singh's newest book, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN EIGHT was the cover (guilty!). I loveeee covers with mysterious estates; it's a trope I always fall for when it comes to picking up mystery/thriller novels. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN EIGHT is my first venture into Nalini Singh's writing, but I can see why readers of contemporary fiction like her.
The story focuses on a group of friends reconnecting at one of their friend's family home years after their death. Bea was such a staple in this group of friends' lives, but when they reminisce about their history with her at her family's estate, they end up being snowed in. Friends become enemies, old flames reconnect, and new lovers are all joined—the secrets between this group begin to unravel. Bea's mysterious death begins to become front and center with the new developments from this group. Maybe reconnecting with old connections isn't always for the best—especially if you have secrets to hide.
This book reminded me so much of THE CHATEAU and BRIGHT AND DEADLY THINGS—two books that were recently released this year, so if you're a fan of those books, please consider picking this one up. The book is a slow burn suspense, so definitely pick this one up when you're looking to digest a story a little bit more slowly. It's not a super dark mystery/thriller, so readers who get nervous with this genre should not worry. I would be interested in seeing what's next with Nalini Singh.
Shanora Williams is the queen of juicy binge reads. I really fell in love with her storytelling with her previous book, The Wife Before (whic3.5 stars
Shanora Williams is the queen of juicy binge reads. I really fell in love with her storytelling with her previous book, The Wife Before (which I highly recommend you checking out). If you like Tarryn Fisher, Shanora's books are must-reads! Her latest book, THE OTHER MISTRESS came out in the summer, but I wanted to make sure I read this one before the end of the year.
The story is centered around Adira Smith-Cortez, a self-made millionaire, and her husband Gabriel. Adira is living an incredible life with her true love, but when she finds out that Gabriel is cheating on her with two other women, Adira begins to spiral beyond repair. She ends up teaming with one of the two women, beautiful nightclub owner Jocelyn, to take down the other mistress, Julianna. After trying to befriend Julianna to take her down, Adira can't help herself but to think extremes. Adira will do everything to protect the life she's built and when her obsession with protecting herself becomes too extreme, she realizes that she's willing to lose everything.
THE OTHER MISTRESS is a fun, juicy psychological thriller, just like her previous novels. I really love Shanora's writing style and it's just the ultimate popcorn read. That being said, I understand why people are mixed in their opinion with the ending. It's not something that I really enjoyed, and it's been done before, but it didn't take away from me being invested in the outcome. I think if the ending was differently wrapped up, I would've given this book 4 or 5 stars. The writing is superb and the juice just pours out of the pages. If you want a fun read, look no further than THE OTHER MISTRESS.
BOYS IN THE VALLEY is a solid coming of age horror novel set in the early 1900s at St. Vincent's Orphanage for Boys in Pennsylvania. Philip Fracassi'sBOYS IN THE VALLEY is a solid coming of age horror novel set in the early 1900s at St. Vincent's Orphanage for Boys in Pennsylvania. Philip Fracassi's newest horror novel was very highly praised by reviewers and bookstagrammers alike, so I definitely wanted to read this during Halloween szn. BOYS IN THE VALLEY is the perfect blend of "The Exorcist meets Lord of the Flies, by way of Midnight Mass" as the blurb suggests.
The story is centered around Peter Barlow, a young boy orphaned after a gruesome murder/suicide of his parents, and is taken to St. Vincent's Orphanage. There, Peter takes to the new home and sees the benefits of growing up within the Priesthood, but when strange and devious actions are being done to the boys within the orphanage, Peter must take a stance before it's too late. Especially when bodies begin to pile up.
This book is dark and very intense, but I think it's one you need to go into knowing very little about. The synopsis is vague and so will my review. If you like traditional horror, BOYS IN THE VALLEY follows that script much more than the modern horror stories I've been seeing lately. It's a perfect concoction of drama, horror, and psychological suspense. The story moves slower than I would've liked, but once you hit the halfway mark, there's no turning back. I'll definitely read more stories by this author, especially close to Halloween. ...more
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