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chaptersofchase's Reviews (1.12k)
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sharp twists and secrets you won’t see coming.
Thank you, St Martins Press, for the gifted copy of Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham {partner}
Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 8.26.2025
Pages: 336
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Ohhhh, y’all—this book is SO good. You do not want to miss Willingham’s newest southern thriller.
I genuinely had no idea where the story was headed, but it pulled me in from the start and didn’t let go. I found myself trying to savor each chapter while racing through the pages to figure out what would happen next.
And let me tell you—I never could’ve predicted where it would go. Willingham knocked it out of the park with Forget Me Not. I honestly want to go back and reread it just to catch all the clues I must’ve missed the first time. That’s one of my favorite things in a thriller: when an author plays fair but still manages to surprise me.
It’s truly an art to create a story with a setting that’s both eerie and magnetic and characters that are layered and completely compelling. This one had all of that and more.
Read if you enjoy:
🎭Family Drama
😳 Isolated Setting
🤯 Dark & Twisty
👏🏼 Atmospheric
📖 Southern Thrillers
I recommend adding this to your summer reading list, as it won't disappoint you!
______
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fast-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Short, sharp, and impossible to put down 👀
Thank you, Atria Books, for the gifted copy of Someone Knows by Vi Keeland {partner}
Genre: Thriller
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 6.17
Pages: 288
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Vi Keeland can absolutely write a romantic thriller. A few years ago, The Unraveling completely floored me—and Someone Knows is no exception.
At just 288 pages, I had a feeling this book would pack a punch, and wow… it delivered. Twisty, tense, and completely unpredictable. I highly recommend going in without knowing too much—the surprises are half the thrill, and Keeland does not hold back.
Because of that, I’ll keep this review short and spoiler-free. Just know that you should be prepared for jaw-dropping twists and a wild ride from start to finish.
This story contains upsetting and challenging subject matter. Specific chapters are devoted to those elements, and I chose to skip them. It didn’t take away from my understanding of the story, and I appreciated knowing I could still engage with the book while setting boundaries for myself.
CW: physical abuse, alcoholism, child abuse, SA, grooming
Read if you enjoy:
✌🏼 Dual POV
🖤 Dark & twisty
💨 Fast-paced
😅 Complex characters
🤯 Endings that blow your mind
Someone Knows will make the perfect poolside read because once you start, you won’t be able to put it down.
______
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse
slow-paced
A sobering, reflective journey across a country—and a future—on the edge.
Thank you, Flatiron & Macmillan Audio, for the gifted copy of The Last American Road Trip {partner}
Genre: Non-Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 4.1.2025
Pages: 320
In my effort to read at least one non-fiction book a month, I picked up The Last American Road Trip—though I’ll admit, I kept putting it off.
I wasn’t sure I was ready to face the reality of what this book might cover: the vanishing places, the irreversible environmental changes, the uncertainty of what we’re leaving behind. But once I started, I was pulled into a story that blended nostalgia with history and grief with purpose.
Yes, it’s heavy at times. The author doesn’t hold back in her thoughts about where we’re headed—and while I agreed with much of what she wrote, I also felt the weight of it. Especially when she spoke about the future her children would inherit, even before she had them. That hit hard.
But alongside the heaviness was something else—an urge to go. To explore more of the places around me, especially those I’ve overlooked. The ones rich in the kind of history that doesn’t always make it into textbooks but still shapes the way we live and remember.
Audiobook Review: ★★★★★
Narrated by the author, which I always love with non-fiction. Her voice carried so much emotion, especially when reflecting on moments that had left a lasting impression.
Read if you enjoy:
🤔 Political history
✨ Missouri, this one is for you
🚗 Travelogue
💬 Unique stories
🗣️ Rambling thoughts
I recommend reading The Last American Road Trip if you’re looking to add a few unique stops to your summer road trip plans.
______
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Family, history, and loss woven through a sprawling fantasy world.
Genre: Young Adult
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 9.15.2020
Pages: 502
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆
“Don't make your life about the loss. Make it about the love.”
I don’t usually read much Young Adult fantasy, but after hearing so many great things about this series, I decided to give it a try!
I can’t say I loved it, but honestly, that might be on me. The worldbuilding was a bit overwhelming — with so many names, titles, and intertwined storylines, I found myself struggling to keep it all straight. From what I’ve seen in other reviews, that seems pretty common early on, so I’m hoping the author smooths things out as the series goes on.
What really stood out for me was Bree’s connection to her family and history. The storylines with her mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother were raw and powerful. It hit me hard to realize how much of their past Bree’s family had lost — forbidden from writing anything down or keeping family ties alive. That sense of loss made me so damn angry.
Despite some of the confusion, I’m definitely planning to continue the series. I’m curious to see how the author brings this world to life and deepens these stories.
______
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slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Finders Keepers
Thank you, Berkley Romance, for the gifted copy of Finders Keepers {partner}
Genre: Romance
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 6.24.2025
Pages: 400
Star Rating: ☆☆☆
I was hoping Finders Keepers would live up to the magic of Adler’s Happy Medium, but sadly, it didn’t grab me.
The romance between Nina and the MMC felt stuck in place, as if they were tangled in their doubts and fears instead of stepping into the future together. I’m not a fan of couples who can’t communicate, and this back-and-forth indecision from Nina kept pulling me out of the story.
The treasure hunt and the flashbacks to the past had potential, but ended up feeling flat and underdeveloped. I waited for a spark or a twist, but it never came. It all just felt so underwhelming and left me disappointed.
Read if you enjoy:
💛 Second chance romance
🏘️ Small town
🫶🏼 Slow burn
🔥 Minimal spice
If you haven’t already, I highly recommend reading Happy Medium by Sarah Adler! While Finders Keepers wasn’t for me, I’m still looking forward to reading whatever she writes next.
______
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dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Toxic lesbian vampires, lyrical prose, and a story that sinks its fangs deep.
Thank you, Tor Books, for the gifted copy of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil {partner}
Genre: Fantasy
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 6.10.2025
Pages: 560
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
I’ve started and stopped writing this review so many times because how do you put into words a book that completely takes over your heart and mind?
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil was my most anticipated read of 2025; honestly, nothing will ever compare to that first time reading this story. I took my time with it, savoring every word, highlighting passages, and tabbing moments that felt right. It took me over a week to finish, because I didn’t want to rush through something so special.
This book is a perfect example of how a story with deeply flawed, unlikable characters can still feel utterly addictive. The characters weren’t lovable—they were haunted, flawed, and made dark choices—but there was something magnetic about them. I couldn’t look away.
V.E. Schwab has crafted a story that captures what it means to live, die, and live on long after. It’s full of sapphic desire, lyrical prose, and just the right amount of female rage simmering beneath the surface. Every page felt alive and raw.
Read if you enjoy:
🩶 Morally grey characters
💥 Female rage
📝 Lyrical prose
📖 Stories that stay with you
This is now the second book by Schwab to earn a place on my all-time favorites list—a testament to the power of storytelling that reaches deep into your soul.
______
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dark
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sometimes the scariest part of a book is the people in it. 👻
Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for the gifted copy of We Live Here Now {partner}
Genre: Horror
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 5.20.2025
Pages: 304
Star Rating: ☆☆☆
Apparently, “horror + creepy old houses” is becoming my 2025 reading theme… but unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me. 😬
We Live Here Now had a strong concept, but it didn’t deliver. The repetition made the story feel like it was stuck in a loop—same fights, same dialogue, same exhausting characters. I kept waiting for some growth, some depth, anything to hold onto… but no one brought it.
The characters? Insufferable. There was constant bickering, gaslighting, and just generally awful behavior—and not in a “juicy drama” way, more in a “why am I still listening to this?” kind of way.
And if I had to hear the FMC mention buying a pregnancy test one more time… 😵💫
Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆
Narrated by Helen Baxendale & Jamie Glover. The performance was solid, but even great narration couldn’t make me like these characters.
Read if you enjoy:
🗣️ Multiple POVs
👀 Atmospheric Details
🙄 Unlikable Characters
🐌 Slow Burn
🤨 Unreliable Narrators
The ending was the only truly unsettling thing about the book, and it gave me Skeleton Key (the horror movie with Kate Hudson) vibes.
______
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adventurous
slow-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
The slow burn that stole my weekend! Thank you, Red Tower Books, for the gifted copy of Shielf of Sparrows {partner}
Genre: Fantasy
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 5.6.2025
Pages: 511
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
“If the last kiss had ignited the spark, this kiss set me aflame.”
I did not have this romantasy on my 2025 bingo card. But when Red Tower Books sent me a copy, I was curious. It sounded like just the shake-up my TBR needed—and the moment I opened it, I was in -- 511 pages later, I came up for air and immediately needed the sequel.
Yes, it starts slow. Yes, there’s some repetition. But honestly? My non-fantasy brain appreciated the reminders, making everything feel richer and more grounded.
What made this story shine for me:
🌿 A fierce, determined FMC who just wants to prove herself
🔥 An MMC who radiates “touch her and die” energy (and yes, I ate it up)
⏳ A slooow burn romance with the best payoff
👑 And a world that’s easy to get lost in, even if fantasy isn’t your go-to
If this one’s on your list, just know: the tension simmers, the build is slow, and when it hits, it hits.
Now excuse me while I stare at my calendar, waiting for book two - Devney Perry, I’m looking at you. 👀
______
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emotional
medium-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
Sometimes the slowest starts lead to the most unforgettable endings.👩🏽🚀
Thank you, Ballantine Books, for the gifted copy of Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid {partner}
Genre: Historical
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 352
Pages: 6.3.2025
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
I wasn’t sure at first. The beginning felt a little slow and a bit too technical for me—those first 50-ish pages had me wondering if this book was really for me.
But I had faith in Taylor Jenkins Reid. And I’m so glad I trusted her.
Once the story found its rhythm, I was completely hooked. The outside world disappeared, and I was fully absorbed in the lives of Joan Goodwin, Vanessa Ford, and the other phenomenal characters. The atmosphere, the emotion, and the depth hit me so hard in the best way. It felt like TJR poured her whole heart into this story, and it shows on every page.
By the time I reached the end, I was a puddle. That final paragraph? It broke me most beautifully.
This book reminded me why I love reading—stories like this one have the power to move you, to change you, and to stay with you.
Read if you enjoy:
✌🏼 Dual Timeline
💪🏼 Strong Female Characters
👏🏼 Character Development
👩🏽🚀 Women in STEM
I recommend reading Atmosphere if you enjoy character-driven stories that slowly build and then hit you right in the heart.
______
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funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Some summers stay with you—others take a little longer to warm up. ☀️
Thank you, PRH Audio, for the gifted copy of One Golden Summer {partner}
Genre: Romance
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 5.6.2025
Pages: 400
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆
“I think of all the times in my life when I’ve stayed quiet because it was more comfortable than speaking up.”
I don’t think any book will ever quite compare to Every Summer After. That one had so many beautiful moments that took me back to teenage summers and first love.
Still, I was excited to read One Golden Summer and return to that cozy lakeside setting I loved. I wanted to fall in love with this story—but it honestly took until about 25% in before I started feeling connected to the characters, the setting, and the plot.
I had a hard time with Charlie Florek. I find overconfident characters a bit exhausting, and most of his dialogue felt like too much. Add in two tropes I don’t love—miscommunication and a third-act breakup—and I found myself pulling away from the romance side of the story.
The part that did work for me? Alice and her grandmother. Their relationship had so much heart, which truly kept me invested. I found myself looking forward to their scenes more than anything else.
🎧Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆
Narrated by AJ Bridel (who also narrated Fortune’s other books). Overall, Bridel did a great job, though I didn’t love the voice she used for Charlie. Still, her narration helped bring the story to life.
Read if you enjoy
😍 Second Chance Romance
💞 Forced Proximity
🫶🏼 Found Family
😆 Fun Banter
📋 Bucket Lists
I think One Golden Summer will make for the perfect pool, beach, and backyard of lake read this season!
______
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