novelgossip's reviews
1240 reviews

Beautiful Exile by Catherine Cowles

5.0

Beautiful Exile is the fourth book in a series and can be read on its own, but don’t do that because these books are so good, you don’t wanna miss any. I knew Arden’s story would be interesting based on the little we knew about her in the previous books but I wasn’t prepared for how heartbreaking and emotional it would be. She was such a unique and fascinating character, tough as nails but inside she’s soft and squishy and seeing that side of her come out with Lincoln was everything. He is such a solid, steady and calming presence for her, exactly what someone like Arden needs, these too couldn’t be more perfect together. I’m so invested in the Colson family and checking in with them and seeing the family group chat was such a fun aside, especially as the suspense here was tense! Per usual I had nothing figured out, the reveal got me so good, def never would’ve figured it out on my own. If you like romantic suspense and haven’t started this series yet it’s a must and other tropes for this book include billionaire, heroine in hiding, brothers BFF, he falls first, small town, forced proximity and who hurt you? 

Sin With Me by Brooke Montgomery

5.0

The last book in a beloved series is always bittersweet to me and I have adored every book in this one, so it was def a bit emotional for me 🥺 It was the perfect ending though, I had a feeling Wilder was special and I was right, he absolutely broke my heart but seeing Delly put him back together again was everything. This was angsty, emotional and had some amazing mutual pining, an absolutely perfect ending to such a great series. If you like small town, cowboy, Vegas wedding, ex boyfriends brother, and amazing mental health rep this was so so good! The whole series is a must read.  (Check triggers at the beginning of the book, there are some sensitive and emotional topics explored.) 

Saltwater by Katy Hays

4.0

This will be a perfect summer or vacation read, it’s got the picturesque setting and the juicy storyline with a lighter style of suspense. There are two timelines and several POVs, so definitely quite a bit going on but everything is easy to follow. I would say this is a slow burn for the most part, there are definitely some sections where things drag a bit but the payoff was worth it in the end for me. I would even say it’s more of a family drama than a real thriller but there is a strong mystery too, so maybe a bit of both. Have some patience with this one, watch these rich people behave terribly and prepare for some major reveals in the end! 

Follow Me by Elizabeth Rose Quinn

3.0

Excuse me, what did I just read?! This one was wild y’all and I don’t even know if I liked it or not, I’m hoping writing this review will help me figure it out. I was into the premise, I’m a sucker for a crazy mom influencer and there were a zillion here so entertainment for days. The author really leaned into the satire of mommy culture online and it was funny and irreverent. The mystery aspect had me too, I really wanted to know what happened to Chiara but it took a long ass time to get there. Parts felt too drawn out and repetitive as her sister, Adrienne was looking for answers and I kept getting pulled out of the story instead deeper into it. The ending was super campy and way over the top, lots of gore and it kind of felt misplaced compared to the rest of the book. Overall a bit of a miss for me, just a strange little read that wasn’t my cup of tea. 

Never Been Worse by Morgan Elizabeth

4.0

No one does a revenge rom com quite like this author, her books are always so fun! A revenge plot usually means lots of drama, and for me, the more drama the better. Wes fell for Harper first and man if that trope doesn’t work for me every single time 🫠 No one deserves a man who will worship her more than Harper, she was the best and girl really needed a break. This was so rep coded, I adored that and if we’re not getting rep tv anytime soon, I’ll take this for sure haha. Both narrators were fantastic but Angelina is quickly becoming one of my faves, she has this raw emotion in her voice that is just incredible! 

One Night Hand Stand by Julia Kent

4.0

I haven’t read one of the authors books in a while and I forgot how funny she is! This one made me laugh quite a bit and it also had a swoony love story, and a small mystery as well. Sarah and Case had amazing chemistry and Shane and Samantha really brought that chemistry to life. Those two are always entertaining to listen to and with a playful and sexy story like this, their personalities really shined. Next time you want a light and super fun listen try this one, I had a blast listening to it! 

Message Deleted by K.L. Slater

4.0

There’s one thing I always know before I start a book from the author, I’m guaranteed a unique premise! The idea of a text message being the catalyst for a world of mess was intriguing to me and a deleted message is just the tip of the iceberg for poor Saffy. This was both well written and incredibly well plotted, there are several threads here that the author managed to tie together in such clever ways in the end, definitely not in any ways I would’ve ever thought to. As the story unfolds I found myself really invested and I appreciated how the past really played a role in the present timelines happenings. Another winner from one of my fave domestic thriller authors! 

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley

3.5

I really liked the setup here, it started out so strong and I immediately liked Jane and appreciated her sense of humor. It doesn’t take a lot of time for the action to start and I was fully invested in what would happen next at the restaurant. I was ok with the kookiness and the sometimes silly plot at first but as the book progressed, it went a little too far at times for me. I really wanted to love this as much as I’ve loved some of the authors other books but it was middle of the road for me. The ending fell flat and after such a quirky buildup I think I wanted a more explosive ending. Not my fave from the author but also not a bad read, just a little too out there for me. 

First Wife's Shadow by Adele Parks

4.0

This is another slow burn domestic suspense by an author that I know will deliver, you just have to be patient to get to the good stuff. She tends to lay the groundwork in a methodical manner which can take some time in the beginning. Once you get to the action things do pick up in a major way and that’s when I became fully invested. The premise here was good, you have Emma ignoring several red flags about her new boyfriend, Matthew and you think it will go in one direction, but I was pleasantly surprised it veered off course slightly. In the second half there are tons of reveals and turns and I was never quite sure what would happen next. If you like slow burn thrillers, unlikable characters, surprising twists and dramatic endings try this! 

We Are Made of Stars by Rochelle B. Weinstein

4.0

I love a story with a large cast of characters and I also love foodie fiction and this had both, a total win for me! Despite so many characters each one had a distinct voice and was very well developed, some I loved some not so much but they all felt authentic and well drawn. The inn itself sounded so quaint and charming and the food descriptions made me wanna head there asap, everything sounded incredible. This is quite the mix of genres, there’s something for everyone and my favorite part was the mystery element as you realized just about everyone is protecting a secret. There were so many shocking surprises, I love a juicy secret, so this was a blast! Try this if you like family drama, sordid secrets and excellent writing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️