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chaptersofchase's Reviews (1.12k)
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Somehow, I’ve signed myself up for a trilogy BEFORE all the books have been published 🤩
Thank you, William Morrow, for the gifted copy of The House at Watch Hill {partner}
Genre: Fantasy
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 10.1.2024
Pages: 384
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
“There are things we grow up believing because we’ve been taught to believe, things we thought were impossible because we’ve been told they are. Then there are those things we feel in our bones; despite the lies heard by our ears, our bones know the truth.”
The House of Watch Hill is one of those books that I think is best to start reading without much context - know it’s about a young woman who loses her mother in a fire and finds out that she’s the long lost relative of a very influential woman that has a lot of secrets. Then, dive right in and start reading.
Karen Marie Moning did an incredible job creating the most atmospheric read. The eerie home and the family secrets inside add so much to the overall mystery of the story, and you’ll want to keep eagerly reading to discover more.
I’d caution you not to go into this one, thinking you’ll have all the answers at the end. Because, as with any trilogy, the ending will you with more questions than you started with, and you’ll be begging for book two.
Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆
The House at Watch Hill is narrated by Amanda Leigh Cobb (Court of Wings and Ruin) and Tim Campbell. Both voice actors did a marvelous job adding to the eerieness of the story, and I hope they’ll continue the series!
Read if you enjoy:
🫣 Gothic horror-ish
🤫 Family secrets
✨ Witchy vibes
💪🏼 Female empowerment
I recommend reading The House at Watch Hill if you enjoyed Discovery of Witches!
______
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funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Haunted Ever After
Thank you, PRH Audio, for the gifted copy of Haunted Ever After {partner}
Genre: Romance
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 8.13.2024
Pages: 326
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
I saved this one for the fall, and it was an absolute delight! The characters were all refreshing, fun, and witty, and one of them, in particular, reminded me of Luke Danes (Gilmore Girls). I’m always more critical of books that have ghosts as supporting characters because they can get a bit cheesy, but Haunted Ever After was just the ghost story I needed for this season.
Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆
Haunted Ever After was narrated by Jeannie Sheneman, a new author to me. She did a marvelous job bringing the book to life, and I look forward to listening to more books from her in the future.
Read if you enjoy:
🔥 Semi-open door romance
👻 Friendly ghosts
🥰 Quirky characters
✨ Small town charm
I recommend reading Haunted Ever After if you enjoyed Happy Medium by Sarah Adler.
___
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mysterious
fast-paced
Another win from one of my favs!
Thank you, William Morrow Books, for the gifted copy of Famous Last Words {partner}
Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 2.27.2024
Pages: 336
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
I don’t think I’ve ever hit ‘read now’ as fast as I did when this gem popped into my inbox. It was THE book I had been waiting for, and it came at the perfect time - a vacation in the mountains with nothing to do but read. I devoured this book - it was addicting in all the best ways and had me eagerly flipping through the pages, trying to figure out the truth behind what happened to Luke.
Like McAllister’s last titles, Famous Last Words was perfectly paced — the tension kept building and building with every chapter. I felt like I could see all the puzzle pieces start to come together the closer I got to the end. I had theories on what might happen but could not figure it out. But Gillian McAllister knew what she was doing, and I finished the last page, blown away by the path she had paved.
This book has a little something for everyone, and I just know Famous Last Words will be a hit in 2025.
Read if you enjoy:
🕰️ Multiple timeline
✌🏼 Dual narration
💨 Fast-paced
😵💫 Complex Family Dynamics
👏🏼 Perfect Pacing
I recommend reading Famous Last Words if you enjoyed reading The Last Thing He Told Me.
_
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dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A Dark, Witchy Read to add to your TBR
Thank you, St Martin’s Press, for the gifted e-copy of The Bane Witch {partner}
Genre: Fantasy
Trope: Witches
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 3.18.2025
Pages: 384
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
When I started The Bane Witch, I was prepared for the typical, predictable witchy story that would likely follow a plot that ultimately ends with a HEAP. Instead, I found a thought-provoking novel that revealed my inner female rage.
The Bane Witch was a gripping story of a woman fleeing the abuse she endured at her husband’s hands. There wasn’t a dull moment in the entire story, and it kept my attention from the very first to the last page (90% of the book, I sat on the edge of my seat). It was precisely how I pictured a dark, witchy novel to be written, and I never felt like it was over the top or hard to believe. Every character felt real to me, and Ava Morgan should be so proud of how she brought this novel to life.
Though, there’s no way around it - when I tell you parts of this book made my blood boil. I mean it. I recommend going into The Bane Witch, understanding that it does cover dark subject matter, but it’s, unfortunately, something that many women endure every day.
Read if you enjoy:
📝 Character development
💪🏼 Female empowerment/rage
🔍 Mystery/Suspense
👏🏼 Complex plot
I recommend reading The Bane Witch if you liked The Change by Kirsten Miller. It could also be compared to Practical Magic but with a dark undertone.
______
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tarah Dewitt, you're the best!
Thank you, St Martin’s Press, for the gifted copy of The Co-Op {partner}
Genre: Romance
Trope: Second Chance
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 10.20.2022
Pages: 352
Star Rating: ☆☆☆
“Because when I’m not what works for people at that time in their lives, when I’m not a convenient version of me, I always manage to lose them.”
While this slow-burn romance was not for me, I will instead focus on what did👇🏼
I love LaRynn’s character and related to all of her internal battles on so many levels. She desperately wants to be loved and accepted for who she is but has been left disappointed by so many people in her past when she finally lets the walls down on who she is. It’s always nice to find characters in books that you relate to on a personal level and I’ve found that in Dewitt’s last two novels.
Also, as someone who has experienced the grief that comes with losing a grandmother and then losing her grandmother’s home - I was brought to tears as LaRynn recalled hearing her grandmothers voice or seeing her standing at the garden gate when she came to visit. Those are memories that you hope to hold onto for forever.
Read if you enjoy:
💍 Marriage of convenience
🏠 Forced proximity
🫶🏼 Navigating grief
🌊 Small, costal town
😄 Fun banter
While The Co-Op was not the romance I had hoped to experience (like in Savor it). There were still some really good takeaways from the story and, without a doubt, I will continue to read whatever Tarah DeWitt writes.
_
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dark
slow-paced
The cover art for this book 🤩
Thank you , PRH Audio, for the gifted copy of Academy of Liars {partner}
Genre: Fantasy
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 9.17.2024
Pages: 464
Star Rating: ☆☆☆
“Lennon's,life is falling apart when she gets a mysterious phone call inviting her to take the entrance exam for Drayton College, a school of magic. With nothing to keep her from saying no she goes to find out she has been chosen because—like everyone else at the school—she has the innate gift of persuasion”
I think that An Academy of Liars is the perfect example of the right book but with the wrong reader. And that wrong reader was me 🫠
I typically love dark academia and when I paired it with the start of spooky season, I thought I would be in for a treat. But, there was just something that missed the mark for me.
Alexis Henderson is the queen of atmosphere and she absolutely created the perfect setting for a magic school. It’s dark, hidden and nestled in the historic city of Savannah. I was SO invested in the first half of the book - I couldn’t stop listening and I really loved learning about the school, students, professors and the history.
But, somewhere around the 40-50% mark, I got lost. I had trouble figuring out what was going and where the book was headed. And that’s what I mean about the right book in the wrong hands - I genuinely think An Academy of Liars will be perfect for the more nuanced fantasy lover!
Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆
An Academy for Liars is narrated by Tracie Frank and (I think) it’s my first book from the narrator. Frank did a phenomenal job of narrating each character in their own unique way. I can’t wait to read more book narrated by her.
Read if you enjoy:
🖤 Atmospheric
🐌 Slow burn
🪄 Magical school
🤏🏼 A little romance
I recommend reading An Academy of Liars if you also enjoyed reading Ninth House.
_
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slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
🔹 Blue Sisters 🔹
Thank you, Ballantine Books & PRH audio, for the gifted copy of this book {partner}
Genre: Literary Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 5.23.2024
Pages: 352
Star Rating: ☆☆☆
"Once you get to my age, you will learn that you can take a lot of wrong turns and still end up in the right place."
I loved the author's eye for intense detail in each sister's story—they came to life with every page I read, and I started to think of them as very real, very flawed people. I was instantly enamored with Lucky's story, but I enjoyed Bonnie's the most.
But Blue Sisters was not for me. The same attention to detail I loved initially became tedious and challenging to follow. The most mundane moments were drawn out of pages, and I never felt like anything happened until the last 20 percent of the book. I struggled with the choices each sister made.
Audiobook Review: ☆☆
I chose to read and listen to Blue Sisters, and I do not recommend the audiobook. The cadence that the narrator, Kit Griffiths, used ruined the story. I actually thought that they may have chosen to use an AI voice for the book. I constantly had to readjust the narration speed because Griffiths couldn't keep a steady pace—I couldn't imagine being behind someone on the highway who doesn't understand how to use cruise control.
Read if you enjoy:
👩🏽🏫 Character studies
🫠 Complex relationships
😢 Emotional stories
🎭 Family dramas
I recommend reading Blue Sisters if you enjoyed reading Hello, Beautiful.
__
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol
medium-paced
A twisty story told in through Janice Hallett's signature format 🙌🏼
Thank you, Atria Books, for the gifted copy of The Examiner {partner}
Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 8.29.2024
Pages: 480
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5
"A mystery unfolds through email, letters, essays, and online correspondence. Six students begin a one-year master's degree program in multimedia art at a British university that has recently been forced to cut many of its fine art programs and redesign the degree with an eye toward art's business relevancy."
Hallett has an incredible talent for putting together a multi-layered plot with a full cast of characters, but what's truly jaw-dropping is the format that her books are all written in. Each book is written in an epistolary format, so we are privy to emails, texts, discussion boards, journals, letters, etc. And Hallett is still able to paint the perfect picture of what is happening within the pages of the book.
While The Examiner is not my favorite, I was still blown away by how everything came together.
My biggest complaint is that The Examiner felt a bit too drawn out. It really took me a while to get into the bones of the story. There was also an added element to the plot that did feel a bit over my head, as it was very tech-heavy in places.
Read if you enjoy:
📝 Mixed media format
👏🏼 Well developed characters
🖤 Dark academia vibes
⁉️ Red herrings galore
🔀 Lots of twists
My appreciation for this book stems from Hallett's incredible storytelling capabilities, and I highly recommend checking out her previous titles.
_
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mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
How to Solve Your Own Murder
Perfect for fans of Knives Out
Thank you, Dutton Books, for the gifted copy of How to Solve Your Own Murder.
Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 3.26.2024
Pages: 358
Star Rating: ☆☆☆.5
“Your future contains dry bones. Your slow demise begins right when you hold the queen in the palm of one hand. Beware the bird, for it will betray you. And from that, there’s no coming back. But daughters are the key to justice, find the right one and keep her close. All signs point toward your murder.”
What a debut!
I’ve had How to Solve Your Own Murder on my TBR list since it was published this spring, but I was honestly saving it for the fall. It is the perfect mystery to cozy up with on a cool fall or winter day.
But, like so many of my favorite mysteries - there were a lot of characters to keep track of. I found myself having to flip back a few pages to refresh my memory of who was who and what they had to do with the Castle Knoll and Frances Adams’ history. So, if you plan to dive into How to Solve Your Own Murder, I highly recommend grabbing a pen and paper to keep everything straight. The little effort that writing down characters takes pays off big time with this cast of quirky small-town characters!
Read if you enjoy:
🔍 Unsolved murder(s)
🏘️ Small town
🤔 Multiple suspects
🤗 Quirky characters
⁉️ Red herrings
I can’t wait to read more from this author when book two of the Castle Knoll series is published in 2024!
_
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mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
✅ Elin Hilderbrand Book Count: 2
Genre: Fiction
Trope: Mystery, Romance
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 6.19.2018
Pages: 480
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆
“There is nothing more terrible, she has decided, than the ferocity with which humans can love.”
I’m not going to lie—The Perfect Couple was not on my TBR list, but you know I can’t watch a book-to-TV adaptation without reading the book first!
I went in expecting a light and fluffy beach read but found myself completely engrossed in the Nantucket wedding mystery of what happened to the Maid of Honor the night before. At one point or another, I thought every character was guilty of killing Merritt. They all had something to hide and a reason to want her out of the picture. And the best part? I didn’t think any of it was over the top.
Read if you enjoy:
🔀 Twisty stories
👥 Multiple POV
🕵🏽♀️ Murder mysteries
⛵️ Nantucket setting
👏🏼 Character growth
🗣️ Third-party narration
The Perfect Couple was so much more than I thought it would be, and I couldn’t put it down until I devoured every page.
______
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