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chaptersofchase's Reviews (1.12k)
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Oh my heart, this book is a must-read.
Thank you, The Dial Press & PRH Audio, for the gifted copy of Spectacular Things {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 7.1.2025
Pages: 368
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein took me by surprise in the best way. While I don’t usually gravitate toward sports fiction, the mix of soccer, strong female characters, and layered family dynamics pulled me in immediately. It’s a story about mothers and daughters, sisters, and the complicated, beautiful mess of love and loyalty.
The characters are so well-developed that they feel real, flaws and all. I’ll admit—at first, I didn’t think I’d connect with Cricket. She felt distant, maybe even hard to like. But as the story unfolded, her growth was so authentic that I found myself rooting for her with everything I had.
Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆
Spectacular Things is narrated by Emily Rankin, who has also narrated Before We Were Yours, Same as it Ever Was, and several other books. Rankin did an incredible job with this narration and brought the whole book to life - highlighting all the very real emotions of this story. If audiobooks are your thing, I highly recommend the audio.
Read if you enjoy:
🏟 Sports fiction with emotional depth
👩👩👧 Family drama
⚽ Soccer
💪 Strong women
This one is emotional, heartfelt, and proof that sometimes the people who frustrate us most are the ones who teach us the most. I recommend adding Spectacular Things to your 2025 reading list.
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slow-paced
Some books are gentle reminders of the kind of world we could live in.
Thank you, Atria Books, for the gifted copy of The Incredible Kindness of Paper {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 8.12.2025
Pages: 256
Star Rating: ☆☆☆
The Incredible Kindness of Paper was a sweet, thoughtful read that left me reflecting on how powerful small acts of kindness can be—especially with the state of the world right now.
While I did enjoy the story, I couldn’t help but feel like it lacked some of the oomph I’d been hoping for. The pacing was quiet, almost meditative, which worked for the message but left me wishing for a bit more emotional punch.
That said, this book’s heart is in the right place. It’s a tender nudge to treat people with empathy and compassion, to listen more closely, and to extend grace where you can. And honestly, that’s something I think we could all use a reminder of right now.
Read if you enjoy:
💌 Uplifting stories
🌱 Character-driven storytelling
💭 Books that leave you thinking
💌 Uplifting stories
🌱 Character-driven storytelling
💭 Books that leave you thinking
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A suspenseful debut that was EXACTLY what I needed
Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for the gifted copy of The Witch's Orchard {partner}
Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 8.12.2025
Pages: 320
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
"It, whatever it is, is a thing that women know of. A thing that we all carry - a decision, a gift, a burden, a chance, a mistake, a choice."
The Witch's Orchard by Archer Sullivan completely swept me away from the first page. I still can't believe this was a debut — the writing is lush, the atmosphere rich, and the characters unforgettable (especially our fierce female lead).
If you love witchy folklore, small towns brimming with secrets, atmospheric suspense, and just a touch of romance, this book is going to be your perfect escape. The story kept me on my toes from start to finish, and when the twists came, I was not ready. Every reveal was a surprise, and the ending left me stunned in the best way.
Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆
The Witch's Orchard is narrated by Emily Pike Stewart, who is new to me as an audiobook narrator, and I can promise you I'll be reading anything she narrates. I was completely blown away by her ability to portray the types of emotions that were represented in this book. There's one scene in particular that left me with goosebumps all over because her narration painted an incredibly raw moment and laced it with so much emotion that it felt like something I was experiencing myself.
Read if you enjoy:
🌙 Witchy folklore
🏡 Small town secrets
💫 Atmospheric suspense
I really can't recommend this book enough, and I hope that we get to see more from Annie Gore. I recommend adding this book to your reading list.
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medium-paced
A debut adult mystery that packs both a twist and a punch to the heart.
Thank you, Random House, for the gifted copy of Not Quite Dead Yet {partner}
Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 7.17.2025
Pages: 392
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆
"Turns out dying feels a lot like living."
Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson marks her first step into the adult mystery genre—and while there are definite YA vibes, it still delivers a suspenseful and entertaining ride. The premise is unique, and the cast of lovable characters kept me turning the pages, even when the main character's immaturity occasionally pulled me out of the moment.
This is the kind of book that makes for a fun fall read—perfect for curling up with on a crisp afternoon. The ending completely surprised me and also carried a surprising amount of sadness, though it did feel a little rushed compared to the rest of the story's pacing.
Also, this book is best read with your eyes instead of your ears. I started with the audio, but the narrator made the FMC seem incredibly immature and took away from the storyline. Although this is the author's debut adult novel, it had a YA vibe to the story, and the audiobook made it feel completely YA.
Read if you enjoy:
🔍 Unique plot
🍂 Fall setting
💔 Emotional twists
Overall, if you're looking for something suspenseful with a fresh setup, a few emotional gut punches, and a cast you'll want to hang out with, this one's worth adding to your TBR (and don't worry, nothing happens to the dog).
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There’s nothing like finding a new thriller that completely takes over your life.
Thank you, William Morrow Books, for the gifted copy of this book! {partner}
Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 8.12.2025
Pages: 448
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
“You can’t put a person in one box, especially when they’re older. You’ve gotta judge them by the totality of their lives. You do bad shit when you’re young that you regret. You do good shit when you’re old that you hope makes up for it.”
In full transparency, I’ve only read a handful of Karin Slaughter books—not because I wasn’t interested, but because starting a long-running series always feels a little daunting. So when I saw she was launching a brand-new series, I jumped on it.
And let me tell you: We Are All Guilty Here consumed me. I read it every spare moment I could find, and when I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about when I could get back to it. I’m the kind of reader who cannot stop mid-chapter, which made those long 20-30 page chapters tough to squeeze in—but oh, was it worth it.
Slaughter knows how to build tension that grips you by the throat. This one had me breathless in the best (and most nerve-shredding) way. The atmosphere? Impeccable. The pacing? Relentless. The characters? Smart and fearless. I already adore these new FMCs and can’t wait to follow their journey.
We Are All Guilty Here is dark, gritty suspense at its finest—borderline true crime in tone—and it does come with some intense content, especially surrounding children and teens. Please read with caution, and feel free to DM me on IG if you want more specifics.
Read if you enjoy:
⚖️ True crime vibes
🧠 Smart, emotionally complex characters
🌫 Gritty suspense
🔥 Thrillers that don’t hold back
I can, without a doubt, say that We Are All Guilty Here will be in my top books of the year. I can’t wait to read more from the North Falls series.
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Torture
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Generational secrets and shipwrecks? You know I'm in. 🤩
Thank you, Ballantine Books & PRH Audio, for the gifted copy of Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams {partner}
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 7.29.2025
Pages: 368
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Beatriz Williams is a master storyteller. She weaves together timelines, generations, and unforgettable characters in a way that always leaves me a little awestruck. Her female leads? Flawed, fierce, and impossible not to root for.
While Under the Stars isn't a personal favorite of hers for me, it still delivered so many of the things I love in historical fiction: vibrant histories, layered family dynamics, and intersecting storylines that stretch across time. And yes—this one takes us back to Winthrop Island, which longtime readers of Williams' work will appreciate.
One of the most fascinating parts of this novel was learning about the tragic fate of the Steamship Atlantic in 1846—an event I knew nothing about before reading. That's the beauty of good historical fiction: it leaves you entertained and a little more informed.
My main struggle came with the chapters narrated by Providence Dare. She's recounting her backstory while also unraveling the ship's final voyage, and those overlapping narratives sometimes blur. I needed to reread passages to stay grounded in the timeline, which helped me regain my focus.
Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆
The full cast—Helen Laser, Xe Sands, Jonathan McClain, Rachel F. Hirsch, Adam Verner, and Will Damron—was absolutely fantastic. I'm such a sucker for ensemble narration, and this one delivered on every level.
Read if you enjoy:
📖 Multiple timelines & POV
😅 Complex family dynamics
🌊 Small island setting
⛴️ Shipwreck stories
I recommend reading Under the Stars if you also enjoyed reading Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan Henry.
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dark
mysterious
medium-paced
There’s a storm brewing and you don’t want to miss it ⛈️
Thank you, St. Martins Press & The SMP Early Reader team, for the gifted copy of The Storm by Rachel Hawkins {partner}
Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 1.6.2026
Pages: 288
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
There was just something so perfect about this book - something that completely drew me into the storyline and refused to let me go until I’d devoured it in a matter of hours.
Rachel Hawkins crafted one of the most original mystery novels I’ve read in a long time. The hurricanes weren’t just part of the setting—they felt like living, breathing characters. And the women caught in the center of it all? Complex, layered, and unforgettable.
What I loved most is how it balanced a slow burn with a steady pull. The story unfolds like a storm brewing on the horizon—quiet at first, then all at once. It’s subtle and atmospheric, but if you blink, you might miss something crucial.
Read if you enjoy:
🌧 Slow burn suspense
🌴 Atmospheric coastal setting
🌀 Unique Timelines
👏🏼 Perfect Twists
🖤 Complex Characters
I highly recommend adding The Storm to your 2026 reading list, as you will not want to miss out on this story.
Here’s my ranking of Hawkins’ books, in case you want to do a deep dive into her backlist.
- The Heiress
- The Wife Upstairs
- The Storm
- The Villa
- Reckless Girls
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medium-paced
It’s always the pretty ones that hide the darkest secrets. 👀
Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for the gifted copy of The Goldens {partner}
Genre: Young Adult
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 7.15.2025
Pages: 291
Star Rating: ☆☆☆
While I can’t say I loved this book, I really enjoyed the rich, atmospheric setting. Think glitz, glam, and glossy perfection masking something just a little bit off. It gave me strong YA vibes—not a bad thing, but it did take me a bit longer to get into the story because of that tone.
There’s technically a mystery, but not in the traditional sense. The tension here is built through subtle unease. The author drops just enough hints to keep you wondering what’s lurking beneath the surface, and it works.
Where The Goldens shines is in its cult element. If you’re at all fascinated by the psychology of cults, this one delivers. The author nails how easy it is to slide into groupthink—and how rarely the people inside realize it’s happening.
Audiobook Review: ★★★★
Narrated by Cassandra Harwood (a new-to-me voice), the performance was solid. Her tone reminded me so much of Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus) that it took a few chapters to separate that image from the actual main character—but once I did, I was all in.
Read if you enjoy:
✨ Glamorous settings
🌀 Cult psychology
💄 Lifestyles of social media influencers
📖 Unique Character Dynamics
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