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cailynreads's reviews
107 reviews
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Mary: An Awakening of Terror by Nat Cassidy
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Mama, You Are Enough: How to Create Calm, Joy, and Confidence Within the Chaos of Motherhood by Claire Nicogossian
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 6%.
I never picked it back up. I just like to read fiction.
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Dearest by Jacquie Walters
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Dearest by Jacquie Walters starts off a bit slow, and I found the beginning somewhat boring. However, once the story gained momentum, I was completely glued to the pages. The second half was gripping, with twists that kept me on edge, eagerly turning the pages to see what would happen next.
The motherhood themes hit close to home, especially as someone who struggled with postpartum. Walters captures the rawness and depth of a mother’s love, fear, and vulnerability in a way that was truly touching and relatable. The exploration of motherhood was woven beautifully into the horror elements, creating an emotional depth that set this book apart from typical horror novels.
And can we talk about the husband? I absolutely hated him. Walters did an incredible job of making his character infuriating, adding to the tension and emotional stakes of the story.
I’d definitely recommend Dearest to horror lovers, especially those who are mothers or enjoy stories that dig into the darker sides of parenthood. It’s a chilling read that’s equal parts haunting and heartfelt.
The Locked Door by Freida McFadden
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden
Freida McFadden strikes again with The Perfect Son! As a long-time fan of her psychological thrillers, I’ve come to expect jaw-dropping twists and edge-of-your-seat suspense, and this book certainly delivered on the tension. For the first time, I was able to guess the twist (which almost never happens with me, especially Freida’s books!), but even knowing where the plot was heading didn’t take away from my enjoyment. In fact, I stayed up until 2 am because I had to see how everything unfolded!
The story follows a seemingly perfect family: a loving mother, an overachieving son, a typical teenage daughter and a father who seems to have it all together. But beneath the picture-perfect surface, secrets begin to unravel, and soon the family’s dark past comes crashing to the forefront. What happens when the truth can no longer stay hidden? McFadden masterfully weaves together themes of familial pressure, deception, and obsession, leaving readers questioning who they can trust right up until the final pages.
The characters in this book really stood out to me. I had a love/hate relationship with many of them, which made the story even more engaging. The mother was both sympathetic and frustrating. I understood her love for her son but couldn’t get past her denial of the obvious cracks in their “perfect” life. The son was chilling, to say the least, and McFadden did an incredible job slowly revealing his true nature. And let’s not forget the father!
If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers that explore the darker side of family dynamics, this book is for you. Freida McFadden is the queen of suspense, and even if you think you see the twist coming, trust me, you’ll still be glued to the page. Highly recommend it to anyone who loves fast-paced, twisty reads that keep you guessing and up until the early hours of the morning!
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Freida McFadden strikes again with The Perfect Son! As a long-time fan of her psychological thrillers, I’ve come to expect jaw-dropping twists and edge-of-your-seat suspense, and this book certainly delivered on the tension. For the first time, I was able to guess the twist (which almost never happens with me, especially Freida’s books!), but even knowing where the plot was heading didn’t take away from my enjoyment. In fact, I stayed up until 2 am because I had to see how everything unfolded!
The story follows a seemingly perfect family: a loving mother, an overachieving son, a typical teenage daughter and a father who seems to have it all together. But beneath the picture-perfect surface, secrets begin to unravel, and soon the family’s dark past comes crashing to the forefront. What happens when the truth can no longer stay hidden? McFadden masterfully weaves together themes of familial pressure, deception, and obsession, leaving readers questioning who they can trust right up until the final pages.
The characters in this book really stood out to me. I had a love/hate relationship with many of them, which made the story even more engaging. The mother was both sympathetic and frustrating. I understood her love for her son but couldn’t get past her denial of the obvious cracks in their “perfect” life. The son was chilling, to say the least, and McFadden did an incredible job slowly revealing his true nature. And let’s not forget the father!
If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers that explore the darker side of family dynamics, this book is for you. Freida McFadden is the queen of suspense, and even if you think you see the twist coming, trust me, you’ll still be glued to the page. Highly recommend it to anyone who loves fast-paced, twisty reads that keep you guessing and up until the early hours of the morning!
The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Just finished this last night, and I am absolutely blown away! This book was such a wild ride. Seriously one of the most twisty, mind-bending thrillers I've ever read!
The story follows Casey, an actress who retreats to her family's lake house to escape the public eye after a personal tragedy. She starts spying on her neighbors across the lake, Katherine and Tom, who seem to have the perfect life...until Katherine goes missing. What starts as a curiosity turns into something much darker as Casey gets pulled into a mystery with so many shocking twists I couldn't keep up. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, the plot flipped on me in the best way.
Riley Sager is officially becoming one of my favorite authors. He has a real gift for suspense and keeping you guessing until the very last page. This book had me glued from start to finish, and the ending completely blew my mind. If you love thrillers packed with surprises and jaw-dropping twists, "The House Across the Lake" is a must-read. I'm still recovering from that plot twist!
Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Riley Sager has done it again with “Middle of the Night”. This book is an absolute page-turner, packed with twists that I never saw coming. The suspense kept me on edge the whole time, and just when I thought I had it figured out, the story took another wild turn. If you love thrillers that mess with your mind, have a touch of supernatural forces and keep you guessing until the very end, this one is for you.