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1104 reviews
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
DNF @ 5% - No Rating
Early to give up, but when you know, you know.
The characters, their behaviour, the dialogue, the setting, everything seems off to me. I’m not emotionally attached or invested at all. I read The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires last year - this one doesn’t even feel like it’s written by the same author. I highly recommend Baby Loveby Jacqueline Wilson as an alternative (no witchcraft though) which deals with unwed pregnant girls shunned by their families, and abuse of power in a group home in a more realistic, impacting way.
Off to find something amazing to read!
Early to give up, but when you know, you know.
The characters, their behaviour, the dialogue, the setting, everything seems off to me. I’m not emotionally attached or invested at all. I read The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires last year - this one doesn’t even feel like it’s written by the same author. I highly recommend Baby Loveby Jacqueline Wilson as an alternative (no witchcraft though) which deals with unwed pregnant girls shunned by their families, and abuse of power in a group home in a more realistic, impacting way.
Off to find something amazing to read!
We are all guilty here by Karin Slaughter
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
2.5 rounded up to 3, a.k.a pretty average!
While the residents of North Falls, Georgia, are all occupied enjoying the 4th of July fireworks, two local teenage girls – Madison Dalrymple and Cheyenne Baker – are being abducted from the carpark.
Deputy Emmy Clifton-Lang (the official Amazon blurb lists Emmy’s surname as ‘Clifford’, so it’s either a typo, was altered for the published version, or differs depending on edition), along with her Sheriff father Gerald Clifton, are first on the scene where all that remains are two mangled bicycles, a smashed cellphone, and blood. Emmy feels guilty, because when Madison tried to reach out to her earlier in the night, Emmy was too preoccupied with her crumbling marriage to listen. The hunt is on to find Madison and Cheyenne alive. But as the hours pass – hope fades.
Unfortunately, We Are All Guilty Here suffered from the same issues I had with another crime novel I read earlier in the month in that the characters were the standout. I really enjoyed Emmy, and all the supporting and peripheral characters. Her family drama and revealed secrets were another highlight. Also, the crime was emotionally affecting, and the character of Emmy did a superb job of conveying this.
There were some clever, surprising twists throughout the novel, but the resolution to the crime was pretty anticlimactic, didn’t bring anything new to the table, and contained a lot of telling rather than showing. There were disturbing moments but We Are All Guilty Here was pretty tame for a Karin Slaughter novel, which I have to admit, I was kind of disappointed by. The first 30% was a five-star read for me – however, I struggled with the twist that occurred soon after that point, and from then onwards I thought the excitement and urgency of the investigation tapered off. Speaking of the investigation, there was far too much time spent on interviewing suspects and the discussions of evidence grew repetitive. If you’re not a fan of police procedures, then I doubt you would enjoy this one. Finally, it was overly long, and there just wasn’t enough happening to sustain its length.
In conclusion, We Are All Guilty Here was underwhelming overall, and as much as I liked the characters, I’m not sure I’m curious enough to continue this series. Hopefully I’m in the minority, and other reviewers/readers will enjoy it more.
I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Harper Collins UK, and Karin Slaughter for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 19th June 2025.
While the residents of North Falls, Georgia, are all occupied enjoying the 4th of July fireworks, two local teenage girls – Madison Dalrymple and Cheyenne Baker – are being abducted from the carpark.
Deputy Emmy Clifton-Lang (the official Amazon blurb lists Emmy’s surname as ‘Clifford’, so it’s either a typo, was altered for the published version, or differs depending on edition), along with her Sheriff father Gerald Clifton, are first on the scene where all that remains are two mangled bicycles, a smashed cellphone, and blood. Emmy feels guilty, because when Madison tried to reach out to her earlier in the night, Emmy was too preoccupied with her crumbling marriage to listen. The hunt is on to find Madison and Cheyenne alive. But as the hours pass – hope fades.
Unfortunately, We Are All Guilty Here suffered from the same issues I had with another crime novel I read earlier in the month in that the characters were the standout. I really enjoyed Emmy, and all the supporting and peripheral characters. Her family drama and revealed secrets were another highlight. Also, the crime was emotionally affecting, and the character of Emmy did a superb job of conveying this.
There were some clever, surprising twists throughout the novel, but the resolution to the crime was pretty anticlimactic, didn’t bring anything new to the table, and contained a lot of telling rather than showing. There were disturbing moments but We Are All Guilty Here was pretty tame for a Karin Slaughter novel, which I have to admit, I was kind of disappointed by. The first 30% was a five-star read for me – however, I struggled with the twist that occurred soon after that point, and from then onwards I thought the excitement and urgency of the investigation tapered off. Speaking of the investigation, there was far too much time spent on interviewing suspects and the discussions of evidence grew repetitive. If you’re not a fan of police procedures, then I doubt you would enjoy this one. Finally, it was overly long, and there just wasn’t enough happening to sustain its length.
In conclusion, We Are All Guilty Here was underwhelming overall, and as much as I liked the characters, I’m not sure I’m curious enough to continue this series. Hopefully I’m in the minority, and other reviewers/readers will enjoy it more.
I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Harper Collins UK, and Karin Slaughter for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 19th June 2025.
The Do-Over by Lynn Painter
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
💝Happy Valentine’s Day!💝
It’s the worst Valentine’s Day of sixteen-year-old Emilie Hornby’s life. On the plus side, at least it’s over.
Except it’s not!
Emilie awakens to find it’s February 14th once again. Unless she can figure out what the universe wants from her and how to break the loop, Emilie will be doomed to repeat the same day over and over.
A mix of Groundhog Day and Ferris Bueller’s Day off, The Do-Over was YA romantic comedy with a magical realism spin. It also shared similarities with Lauren Oliver’s, Before I Fall, although this book was nowhere near as grim. Not that this novel shied away from dealing with serious issues – it included themes of grief, loss, divorce, bottling emotions, uninvolved neglectful parents, and abandonment.
And guess who narrated the audiobook? Jesse Vilinsky – who I complimented last year for her realistic portrayal of the teenage voice in Caitlin Weaver’s, Things We Never Say. Her performance was even better in The Do-Over. I highly recommend the audio.
This was my first read by Lynn Painter but certainly won’t be my last. If you’re in the mood for light, adorable Valentine’s fun, look no further than The Do-Over.
It’s the worst Valentine’s Day of sixteen-year-old Emilie Hornby’s life. On the plus side, at least it’s over.
Except it’s not!
Emilie awakens to find it’s February 14th once again. Unless she can figure out what the universe wants from her and how to break the loop, Emilie will be doomed to repeat the same day over and over.
A mix of Groundhog Day and Ferris Bueller’s Day off, The Do-Over was YA romantic comedy with a magical realism spin. It also shared similarities with Lauren Oliver’s, Before I Fall, although this book was nowhere near as grim. Not that this novel shied away from dealing with serious issues – it included themes of grief, loss, divorce, bottling emotions, uninvolved neglectful parents, and abandonment.
And guess who narrated the audiobook? Jesse Vilinsky – who I complimented last year for her realistic portrayal of the teenage voice in Caitlin Weaver’s, Things We Never Say. Her performance was even better in The Do-Over. I highly recommend the audio.
This was my first read by Lynn Painter but certainly won’t be my last. If you’re in the mood for light, adorable Valentine’s fun, look no further than The Do-Over.
Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours
Just like her grandmother before her 17 year-old Sariyah Bryant has inherited a unique ability. She senses peoples needs, even before they do. To placate the voices in her head Sariyah carries a red duffel (dubbed ‘Santa bag’ by her little brother) wherever she goes, crammed with everyday items. Need a stick of gum, hair brush, or nail file, Sariyah’s got you covered. Her Santa bag doesn’t contain an EpiPen, but Sariyah will go racing to her high school’s nurses office to check the stock upon hearing someone’s need for one.
When her friend Deja Nelson’s urgent silent plea penetrate Sariyah’s brain on their way to a music festival to celebrate their friend Malcolm Hawkin’s eighteenth birthday, Sariyah is filled with dread. Why would Deja need pepper spray? And she’s right to be worried – because hours later Deja disappears from the festival. And this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Five years ago, her best friend and Malcolm’s twin sister Tessa vanished without a trace two days before her thirteenth birthday. Tessa’s still missing, presumed dead. Sariyah, Malcolm, and their new friend Jude Abrams are determined to find Deja before history can repeat itself.
Needy Little Things was a haunting YA mystery, with a supernatural undertone. A slow burn but a sense of unease permeated the pages right from the beginning. The twists were heart-pounding, and the last sentence sent a cold shiver down my spine. The writing was beautiful, impacting, powerful, and immersive. I could have highlighted every sentence on my Kindle. Every line of dialogue counted conveying emotion, subtext, and conflict in every scene. All the characters were given clear motivations, vulnerabilities, personality quirks, external and internal pressures, backstories, and relationships to one another.
Sariyah’s premonitions blended seamlessly into the story, both helped and hindered her investigation, and were viewed by her as both a gift and a curse. Only family and friends, or people who’d experienced it first hand, believed in her ability, and aside from Deja (who was a newish friend) Sariyah was unable to read the needs of those closest to her. Sariyah was often overwhelmed physically, mentally, and emotionally by how much her psychic power invaded and impacted her life, as well as the morality, ethical use, and sense of duty associated with it. Other serious themes included police, media, and the publics bias applicable to the race of missing children and teenagers, the powerlessness, uncertainty, blame, suspicion, and devastation of not knowing what has happened to a loved one, mental health, physical illness, financial strain, and academic struggles.
Needy Little Things completely worked as a standalone, but I’m crossing my fingers it’s the start of a series, as I feel there’s more to explore, and I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters. I can’t believe this was Channelle Desamours’ debut. I’m awestruck!
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Human beings are Needy Little Things!
‘Paper clip. Crayon. Shoelace. Chewing gum’
Just like her grandmother before her 17 year-old Sariyah Bryant has inherited a unique ability. She senses peoples needs, even before they do. To placate the voices in her head Sariyah carries a red duffel (dubbed ‘Santa bag’ by her little brother) wherever she goes, crammed with everyday items. Need a stick of gum, hair brush, or nail file, Sariyah’s got you covered. Her Santa bag doesn’t contain an EpiPen, but Sariyah will go racing to her high school’s nurses office to check the stock upon hearing someone’s need for one.
‘Pepper spray. Pepper spray. Pepper spray’.
When her friend Deja Nelson’s urgent silent plea penetrate Sariyah’s brain on their way to a music festival to celebrate their friend Malcolm Hawkin’s eighteenth birthday, Sariyah is filled with dread. Why would Deja need pepper spray? And she’s right to be worried – because hours later Deja disappears from the festival. And this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Five years ago, her best friend and Malcolm’s twin sister Tessa vanished without a trace two days before her thirteenth birthday. Tessa’s still missing, presumed dead. Sariyah, Malcolm, and their new friend Jude Abrams are determined to find Deja before history can repeat itself.
Needy Little Things was a haunting YA mystery, with a supernatural undertone. A slow burn but a sense of unease permeated the pages right from the beginning. The twists were heart-pounding, and the last sentence sent a cold shiver down my spine. The writing was beautiful, impacting, powerful, and immersive. I could have highlighted every sentence on my Kindle. Every line of dialogue counted conveying emotion, subtext, and conflict in every scene. All the characters were given clear motivations, vulnerabilities, personality quirks, external and internal pressures, backstories, and relationships to one another.
Sariyah’s premonitions blended seamlessly into the story, both helped and hindered her investigation, and were viewed by her as both a gift and a curse. Only family and friends, or people who’d experienced it first hand, believed in her ability, and aside from Deja (who was a newish friend) Sariyah was unable to read the needs of those closest to her. Sariyah was often overwhelmed physically, mentally, and emotionally by how much her psychic power invaded and impacted her life, as well as the morality, ethical use, and sense of duty associated with it. Other serious themes included police, media, and the publics bias applicable to the race of missing children and teenagers, the powerlessness, uncertainty, blame, suspicion, and devastation of not knowing what has happened to a loved one, mental health, physical illness, financial strain, and academic struggles.
Needy Little Things completely worked as a standalone, but I’m crossing my fingers it’s the start of a series, as I feel there’s more to explore, and I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters. I can’t believe this was Channelle Desamours’ debut. I’m awestruck!
The Favourites by Layne Fargo
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The eyes of the world are watching rising stars Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha. Will they be the Olympic figure-skating favourites?
Since they first laid eyes on one another as children, it’s been Katarina and Heath against the world. Years of ice-skating together as a team, these best friends turned teenage sweethearts are about to see their professional dreams realised. Kat has always known that she loves the competition and limelight more than Heath, but she also believes Heath will do anything for her.
This soapy sport drama chronicled the rise and fall of Katarina’s figure skating career, and her much-publicised fall from grace. In the prologue we learn that something catastrophic happened ten years ago, and that whatever it was still haunts Kat to this day. The answers were then bit-by-bit revealed in two ways – via a revealing documentary series interviewing those closest to the scandal, and through Kat’s own first-person account.
Layne Fargo introduced us to the glittering, breathtaking, cutthroat world of figure skating, and all the talent, ambition, struggles, competitiveness, gossip, backstabbing, and jealousy that goes along with it. The twists ranged from scandalous to shocking to somewhat off the rails by the end. The last 20% was a little too outlandish I thought, and didn’t really fit the tone of the rest of the novel. Layne Fargo did her research though, and it showed – I was completely immersed in the universe she created. The Favourites was also the story of all-consuming, obsessive love – the passion, longing, and desire of it, as well as the possessiveness and toxicity. Inspired by Wuthering Heights this novel was essentially a modern re-telling.
I listened to the audiobook on Spotify and Christine Lakin and Louise Zhu’s narration was a 5-star cinematic listen. Lakin was the perfect choice to voice Kat, and Zhu’s audience-style enthusiasm elevated the written material. I’m sure this title will be nominated for the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards Audiobook category, deservedly so. If you enjoyed the documentary/high drama-type performances in Taylor Jenkins Reids’s, Daisy Jones and the Six and Lisa Jewell’s, None of This is True then definitely check out The Favouritesaudiobook. You won’t be disappointed!
I think Layne Fargo has found her writing niche with The Favourites.
Since they first laid eyes on one another as children, it’s been Katarina and Heath against the world. Years of ice-skating together as a team, these best friends turned teenage sweethearts are about to see their professional dreams realised. Kat has always known that she loves the competition and limelight more than Heath, but she also believes Heath will do anything for her.
This soapy sport drama chronicled the rise and fall of Katarina’s figure skating career, and her much-publicised fall from grace. In the prologue we learn that something catastrophic happened ten years ago, and that whatever it was still haunts Kat to this day. The answers were then bit-by-bit revealed in two ways – via a revealing documentary series interviewing those closest to the scandal, and through Kat’s own first-person account.
Layne Fargo introduced us to the glittering, breathtaking, cutthroat world of figure skating, and all the talent, ambition, struggles, competitiveness, gossip, backstabbing, and jealousy that goes along with it. The twists ranged from scandalous to shocking to somewhat off the rails by the end. The last 20% was a little too outlandish I thought, and didn’t really fit the tone of the rest of the novel. Layne Fargo did her research though, and it showed – I was completely immersed in the universe she created. The Favourites was also the story of all-consuming, obsessive love – the passion, longing, and desire of it, as well as the possessiveness and toxicity. Inspired by Wuthering Heights this novel was essentially a modern re-telling.
I listened to the audiobook on Spotify and Christine Lakin and Louise Zhu’s narration was a 5-star cinematic listen. Lakin was the perfect choice to voice Kat, and Zhu’s audience-style enthusiasm elevated the written material. I’m sure this title will be nominated for the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards Audiobook category, deservedly so. If you enjoyed the documentary/high drama-type performances in Taylor Jenkins Reids’s, Daisy Jones and the Six and Lisa Jewell’s, None of This is True then definitely check out The Favouritesaudiobook. You won’t be disappointed!
I think Layne Fargo has found her writing niche with The Favourites.
The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright by Brooke Harris
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Beatrice Alright’s life is far from all right!
Bea was a college student studying to be a doctor when she met Declan, a man twenty-one years her senior. She quickly felt pregnant to him, moving into his Dublin flat, and quitting school to raise her daughter, Ellie. Bea loves being a mother, but four years later, the rest of her life is far from ideal – Declan is emotionally distant, stingy with money, and rarely home since he travels a lot for his career, and Bea is struggling to make ends meet working all hours as a hospital cleaner. But always one who looks on the bright side and sees the best in people, Bea is convinced that Declan is only days away from proposing. But instead Declan drops a devastating bombshell, one that sees Bea and little Ellie, broke and alone with nowhere to go on the snowy streets of Dublin weeks before Christmas.
Bea’s journey to find stability and a place to call home for herself and her young child was as heart-wrenching as it was heartwarming. As strong and resilient as she was, losing her parents at a young age and growing up in the foster care system meant her search for love and need to be cared for left Bea vulnerable to being taken advantage of by others. There were several characters I wanted to punch! Bea had the kindest, gentlest nature, it only took the first few pages of the book to understand how altruistic, thoughtful, genuine and generous with her time she was. Unfortunately, she naively thought those she surrounded herself with would give back the same in return, but as we know sadly that isn’t always the case. Thankfully, there were characters in this novel who were willing to reach out and lend a helping hand and heart.
A main theme of this novel was the shock of sudden and hidden homelessness and the shame, embarrassment, and sense of failure associated with it, and I thought the author handled a serious social problem in a realistic and sensitive way. A second prominent theme was new unexpected friendship, burgeoning new romance, and found family. And these parts were a delight. I adored all the bonds that formed. Four-year-old Ellie was also adorable, and her dialogue and behaviour was age appropriate. Which brings me to the third theme – motherhood. Bea was an incredible mother, always putting her daughter’s needs ahead of her own, and it was always abundantly clear that she loved Ellie more than anyone, and would sacrifice anything to protect her.
There were some dark, tense moments, a truckload of emotional ones, several tears shed, but overall The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright was a warm, enveloping hug. Included in the kindle version is an excerpt from Brooke Harris’ 2023 novel – Memories of You, which sounds just as moving. I look forward to reading it and everything else she’s written. It only took me a day to read this. - I think that speaks for itself!
Bea was a college student studying to be a doctor when she met Declan, a man twenty-one years her senior. She quickly felt pregnant to him, moving into his Dublin flat, and quitting school to raise her daughter, Ellie. Bea loves being a mother, but four years later, the rest of her life is far from ideal – Declan is emotionally distant, stingy with money, and rarely home since he travels a lot for his career, and Bea is struggling to make ends meet working all hours as a hospital cleaner. But always one who looks on the bright side and sees the best in people, Bea is convinced that Declan is only days away from proposing. But instead Declan drops a devastating bombshell, one that sees Bea and little Ellie, broke and alone with nowhere to go on the snowy streets of Dublin weeks before Christmas.
Bea’s journey to find stability and a place to call home for herself and her young child was as heart-wrenching as it was heartwarming. As strong and resilient as she was, losing her parents at a young age and growing up in the foster care system meant her search for love and need to be cared for left Bea vulnerable to being taken advantage of by others. There were several characters I wanted to punch! Bea had the kindest, gentlest nature, it only took the first few pages of the book to understand how altruistic, thoughtful, genuine and generous with her time she was. Unfortunately, she naively thought those she surrounded herself with would give back the same in return, but as we know sadly that isn’t always the case. Thankfully, there were characters in this novel who were willing to reach out and lend a helping hand and heart.
A main theme of this novel was the shock of sudden and hidden homelessness and the shame, embarrassment, and sense of failure associated with it, and I thought the author handled a serious social problem in a realistic and sensitive way. A second prominent theme was new unexpected friendship, burgeoning new romance, and found family. And these parts were a delight. I adored all the bonds that formed. Four-year-old Ellie was also adorable, and her dialogue and behaviour was age appropriate. Which brings me to the third theme – motherhood. Bea was an incredible mother, always putting her daughter’s needs ahead of her own, and it was always abundantly clear that she loved Ellie more than anyone, and would sacrifice anything to protect her.
There were some dark, tense moments, a truckload of emotional ones, several tears shed, but overall The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright was a warm, enveloping hug. Included in the kindle version is an excerpt from Brooke Harris’ 2023 novel – Memories of You, which sounds just as moving. I look forward to reading it and everything else she’s written. It only took me a day to read this. - I think that speaks for itself!
Head Cases by John McMahon
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
A serial killer is exterminating serial killers!
There is a unit of five FBI agents dedicated to identifying and unraveling unusual puzzling crimes known as Patterns and Recognition (PAR). Internally nicknamed ‘The Head Cases’because of their unique crime-solving techniques, the unit is considered the ‘bottom of the barrel’ within the FBI.
PAR agent Gardner Camden (our sole narrator) and his partner Cassie Pardo are dispatched to a crime scene in Dallas, Texas. A vicious killer of women has been found dead – murdered. When a second body turns up in another state – also a mass murderer – the PAR team conclude that that a vigilante killer is going after bad people. Who and why? Given their detailed knowledge of the past crimes committed all avenues lead to someone in law enforcement, potentially even the FBI.
Head Cases (the first in a series) began with a hiss and a roar, I was glued to the pages for the first intense 30%. But tracking leads, analysing clues, the investigation process, and internal politics within the FBI soon grew stale and long-winded. I craved more excitement, suspense, and shocks. Even when the stakes were personal for the agents the threat wasn’t high enough. I do understand though that a certain amount of info dump was needed to establish and set up the series.
The characters were the stand-out. Each had their own unique personality quirks and strengths, that contributed to the team, and the investigation. There were hints and reveals of compelling backstories, and each character complimented, and cared about, one another. The PAR unit definitely contained both a found family vibe, and outsiders finding a place where they fit and belonged.
Even though the crime plot in Head Cases wasn’t my favourite the characters were intriguing enough, and the note it ended on has left me keen enough to discover where this is going and continue the series.
There is a unit of five FBI agents dedicated to identifying and unraveling unusual puzzling crimes known as Patterns and Recognition (PAR). Internally nicknamed ‘The Head Cases’because of their unique crime-solving techniques, the unit is considered the ‘bottom of the barrel’ within the FBI.
PAR agent Gardner Camden (our sole narrator) and his partner Cassie Pardo are dispatched to a crime scene in Dallas, Texas. A vicious killer of women has been found dead – murdered. When a second body turns up in another state – also a mass murderer – the PAR team conclude that that a vigilante killer is going after bad people. Who and why? Given their detailed knowledge of the past crimes committed all avenues lead to someone in law enforcement, potentially even the FBI.
Head Cases (the first in a series) began with a hiss and a roar, I was glued to the pages for the first intense 30%. But tracking leads, analysing clues, the investigation process, and internal politics within the FBI soon grew stale and long-winded. I craved more excitement, suspense, and shocks. Even when the stakes were personal for the agents the threat wasn’t high enough. I do understand though that a certain amount of info dump was needed to establish and set up the series.
The characters were the stand-out. Each had their own unique personality quirks and strengths, that contributed to the team, and the investigation. There were hints and reveals of compelling backstories, and each character complimented, and cared about, one another. The PAR unit definitely contained both a found family vibe, and outsiders finding a place where they fit and belonged.
Even though the crime plot in Head Cases wasn’t my favourite the characters were intriguing enough, and the note it ended on has left me keen enough to discover where this is going and continue the series.
Don't Tell Me How to Die by Marshall Karp
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Holy Smokes!
1997 – Seventeen-year-old Maggie McCormick, and her 16-year-old sister Lizzie lose their mother to a rare, genetic, incurable blood disease. Her final wish, that her daughters promise to watch over their father because there are many women in their small town of Heartstone, New York, who will take advantage of his grieving state. But one gold-digger is persistent!
2023 – Maggie is flying high. She is now the mayor of Heartstone, married to a brilliant surgeon named Alex Dunn, and together they share fifteen-year-old twins – Kevin and Kate. But Maggie’s world comes crashing down when her latest test results reveal she has the same blood disease her mother had. She remembers how the women flocked around her father back then. She doesn’t want to leave her husband and kids vulnerable to that. Maggie has a plan.
A thrilling premise, a title that grabbed my attention, and eye-catching cover art. I was pretty much sold when I swiped to the first page, and once I’d read the foreboding prologue I was hooked. Don’t Tell Me How to Die was a psychologically disturbing story of deceit, deception, and misdirection. I was immediately drawn to the characters, and quickly grew to like and care about them, even as I reminded myself that I probably shouldn’t trust or grow attached to anyone in a thriller. I think because the 1990’s timeline read more like literary fiction/family drama, saga/YA it lulled me into a false sense of security. Although there were some parts even in the first half where I was like, “I smell a rat!” But nothing could have prepared me for the whirlwind number of twists in the last half. How it all came together in the end was executed to perfection. Did I guess correctly regarding any of it? Nope!
Another highlight was the dialogue, every line felt natural, real, and on-point. And even though there were dialogue tags they weren’t needed as every character had a distinctive voice and tone. The humorous dialogue really stood out as well, and lightened the mood. And I’d be amiss if I didn’t mention the setting of Heartstone and its charming sense of community and neighbourhood, and how the author brought it to life with his intricate descriptions of the layout – I could clearly picture all of it in my head.
I’m unable to think of a single negative. And my fellow reviewers are in complete agreement as I’ve read so many glowing 5-star reviews praising this one. I’m sure there’ll be many more to come once Don’t Tell Me How to Die is released next month. My top favourite of the novels I’ve read so far published in 2025.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Marshall Karp for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 4th March 2025
1997 – Seventeen-year-old Maggie McCormick, and her 16-year-old sister Lizzie lose their mother to a rare, genetic, incurable blood disease. Her final wish, that her daughters promise to watch over their father because there are many women in their small town of Heartstone, New York, who will take advantage of his grieving state. But one gold-digger is persistent!
2023 – Maggie is flying high. She is now the mayor of Heartstone, married to a brilliant surgeon named Alex Dunn, and together they share fifteen-year-old twins – Kevin and Kate. But Maggie’s world comes crashing down when her latest test results reveal she has the same blood disease her mother had. She remembers how the women flocked around her father back then. She doesn’t want to leave her husband and kids vulnerable to that. Maggie has a plan.
A thrilling premise, a title that grabbed my attention, and eye-catching cover art. I was pretty much sold when I swiped to the first page, and once I’d read the foreboding prologue I was hooked. Don’t Tell Me How to Die was a psychologically disturbing story of deceit, deception, and misdirection. I was immediately drawn to the characters, and quickly grew to like and care about them, even as I reminded myself that I probably shouldn’t trust or grow attached to anyone in a thriller. I think because the 1990’s timeline read more like literary fiction/family drama, saga/YA it lulled me into a false sense of security. Although there were some parts even in the first half where I was like, “I smell a rat!” But nothing could have prepared me for the whirlwind number of twists in the last half. How it all came together in the end was executed to perfection. Did I guess correctly regarding any of it? Nope!
Another highlight was the dialogue, every line felt natural, real, and on-point. And even though there were dialogue tags they weren’t needed as every character had a distinctive voice and tone. The humorous dialogue really stood out as well, and lightened the mood. And I’d be amiss if I didn’t mention the setting of Heartstone and its charming sense of community and neighbourhood, and how the author brought it to life with his intricate descriptions of the layout – I could clearly picture all of it in my head.
I’m unable to think of a single negative. And my fellow reviewers are in complete agreement as I’ve read so many glowing 5-star reviews praising this one. I’m sure there’ll be many more to come once Don’t Tell Me How to Die is released next month. My top favourite of the novels I’ve read so far published in 2025.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Marshall Karp for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 4th March 2025
Penitence by Kristin Koval
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
In the rural Colorado ski town of Lodgepole two families are torn apart by tragedy!
The first happened on the 28 February 1991 when 17-year-old Angie DeLuca and her 18-year-old boyfriend Julian Dumont were skiing with Angie’s younger sister Diana (7), when Diana lost control, hit a tree, and was killed.
The second occurred over twenty years later on the 13th October 2016. Angie and her husband David Sheehan were awoken in the middle of the night by gunshots. They find their 13-year-old daughter Nora standing in the doorway of her 14-year-old brother Nico’s bedroom, covered in blood, holding a gun. She shot her brother – not one, not two, but three times – all at close range.
Penitence was impacting, emotive, eye-opening, thought-provoking, realistic contemporary literary fiction, crime, and family saga, with a focus on relationship dynamics, and interpersonal conflict. I wouldn’t categorise it as a courtroom drama, but there was a fair bit of time spent navigating legal issues and creating a defence strategy. The characters were complex, sympathetic, and morally grey – damaged and broken by tragedy and pain, secrets and lies, and grief, loss, and blame. Penitence dealt with serious social issues not limited to gun violence, racism, sentencing disparities and treatment of young offenders in the justice and prison systems, alcoholism, depression, mental health, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Alzheimer’s disease, and juvenile Huntington’s disease.
The writing was eloquent and moving, with vivid and creative description. The prologue immediately immersed me in the plot as it jumped from character to character explaining what each was doing at the exact moment teenage Nora sat shivering in a jail cell. From there chapters alternated between four POV’s: Angie, Nora, Julian, and Martine Dumont (Julian’s mother/Nora’s lawyer). And the chapters were on the lengthy side. Which led to some pacing issues the further the book progressed, particularly with the 1990’s – to early 2000’s timeline, which tended to drag in places. There was one other reason that prevented this from being a five-star read for me, which was more my issue rather than a failure on the books part, but because it’s too much of a spoiler only peek if you’ve read the book or have no intention of picking it up.
Penitence was Kristin Koval’s debut and she’s definitely an author I’ll be keeping my eye on. The comparisons to Jodi Piccoult, Celeste Ng, and Angie Kim are accurate and deserving.
SPOILER: I knew going in that this wasn’t going to be a thriller, but I was still expecting more twists relating to Diana‘s accident and Nico‘s murder, and admit, I felt a little disappointed by the end.
The first happened on the 28 February 1991 when 17-year-old Angie DeLuca and her 18-year-old boyfriend Julian Dumont were skiing with Angie’s younger sister Diana (7), when Diana lost control, hit a tree, and was killed.
The second occurred over twenty years later on the 13th October 2016. Angie and her husband David Sheehan were awoken in the middle of the night by gunshots. They find their 13-year-old daughter Nora standing in the doorway of her 14-year-old brother Nico’s bedroom, covered in blood, holding a gun. She shot her brother – not one, not two, but three times – all at close range.
Penitence was impacting, emotive, eye-opening, thought-provoking, realistic contemporary literary fiction, crime, and family saga, with a focus on relationship dynamics, and interpersonal conflict. I wouldn’t categorise it as a courtroom drama, but there was a fair bit of time spent navigating legal issues and creating a defence strategy. The characters were complex, sympathetic, and morally grey – damaged and broken by tragedy and pain, secrets and lies, and grief, loss, and blame. Penitence dealt with serious social issues not limited to gun violence, racism, sentencing disparities and treatment of young offenders in the justice and prison systems, alcoholism, depression, mental health, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Alzheimer’s disease, and juvenile Huntington’s disease.
The writing was eloquent and moving, with vivid and creative description. The prologue immediately immersed me in the plot as it jumped from character to character explaining what each was doing at the exact moment teenage Nora sat shivering in a jail cell. From there chapters alternated between four POV’s: Angie, Nora, Julian, and Martine Dumont (Julian’s mother/Nora’s lawyer). And the chapters were on the lengthy side. Which led to some pacing issues the further the book progressed, particularly with the 1990’s – to early 2000’s timeline, which tended to drag in places. There was one other reason that prevented this from being a five-star read for me, which was more my issue rather than a failure on the books part, but because it’s too much of a spoiler only peek if you’ve read the book or have no intention of picking it up.
Penitence was Kristin Koval’s debut and she’s definitely an author I’ll be keeping my eye on. The comparisons to Jodi Piccoult, Celeste Ng, and Angie Kim are accurate and deserving.
SPOILER: I knew going in that this wasn’t going to be a thriller, but I was still expecting more twists relating to Diana‘s accident and Nico‘s murder, and admit, I felt a little disappointed by the end.
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
You’ll fall in love with this picturesque setting! So many glorious animals!
Shearwater Island holds many a secret – Located between the Tasmanian coast of Australia and Antarctica. Home to many rare species of animals. But life on the island is threatened due to climate change and rising sea levels.
Nine years ago, following the death of their mother, Dominic Salt brought his three children to live in Shearwater’s lighthouse. They are caretakers for the island’s Research Facility which houses scientists several months of the year – who are tasked with studying the wildlife, weather, and tides.
During the worst storm the Salt family has ever endured an injured woman named Rowan washes up on the shore. Where did she come from? Shearwater is so remote that she had to have been on her way there. But why? What does she want? She will I pact all their lives.
Wild Dark Shore was bleak, dark, tender, eerie, and mysterious yet there was still happiness and hope for the future to be found even in the direst of times. The main characters were brave, strong, courageous, and heroic and they loved and respected the land and sea as much as they did each other. I am almost certain this was set in the present day but could just as easily taken place slightly in the future.
My main take away after finishing this novel was the enduring strength of the unconditional love, powerful unshakeable bond, and protective instinct that exists between parents and their children. And that everything in nature is not only connected – weather, trees, plants, crops, insects, animals, humans – but dependant on each other to survive and thrive. Mother nature is as glorious and pure as it is unrelenting and destructive. Also, that nowhere on the planet is untouched by the devastating effects of climate change and man-made destruction.
The writing was hauntingly beautiful, captivating, insightful, and hit every emotional beat expertly. It was also deliberately vague, dreamlike, and flowery, which may be too frustrating for some readers. Definitely a mood-based read requiring patience and concentration, but the payoff was 100% worth it. A slow burn – particularly the first half, but the last handful of chapters were tense and fast-paced. There were some exceptional twists sprinkled throughout that left me reeling. And keep those tissues handy, and prepare yourself, because it was a tear-jerker! If you need a good cry, this is the book for you. The narration shifted between Rowan, and the three members of the Salt family, with the youngest child’s (nine-year-old Orly) chapters reciting the evolution of various plants and their importance.
Charlotte McConaghy is a new-to-me Australian author whose backlist I’ll definitely be delving into.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Penguin Random House Australia, and Charlotte McConaghy for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 4th March 2025.
Shearwater Island holds many a secret – Located between the Tasmanian coast of Australia and Antarctica. Home to many rare species of animals. But life on the island is threatened due to climate change and rising sea levels.
Nine years ago, following the death of their mother, Dominic Salt brought his three children to live in Shearwater’s lighthouse. They are caretakers for the island’s Research Facility which houses scientists several months of the year – who are tasked with studying the wildlife, weather, and tides.
During the worst storm the Salt family has ever endured an injured woman named Rowan washes up on the shore. Where did she come from? Shearwater is so remote that she had to have been on her way there. But why? What does she want? She will I pact all their lives.
Wild Dark Shore was bleak, dark, tender, eerie, and mysterious yet there was still happiness and hope for the future to be found even in the direst of times. The main characters were brave, strong, courageous, and heroic and they loved and respected the land and sea as much as they did each other. I am almost certain this was set in the present day but could just as easily taken place slightly in the future.
My main take away after finishing this novel was the enduring strength of the unconditional love, powerful unshakeable bond, and protective instinct that exists between parents and their children. And that everything in nature is not only connected – weather, trees, plants, crops, insects, animals, humans – but dependant on each other to survive and thrive. Mother nature is as glorious and pure as it is unrelenting and destructive. Also, that nowhere on the planet is untouched by the devastating effects of climate change and man-made destruction.
The writing was hauntingly beautiful, captivating, insightful, and hit every emotional beat expertly. It was also deliberately vague, dreamlike, and flowery, which may be too frustrating for some readers. Definitely a mood-based read requiring patience and concentration, but the payoff was 100% worth it. A slow burn – particularly the first half, but the last handful of chapters were tense and fast-paced. There were some exceptional twists sprinkled throughout that left me reeling. And keep those tissues handy, and prepare yourself, because it was a tear-jerker! If you need a good cry, this is the book for you. The narration shifted between Rowan, and the three members of the Salt family, with the youngest child’s (nine-year-old Orly) chapters reciting the evolution of various plants and their importance.
Charlotte McConaghy is a new-to-me Australian author whose backlist I’ll definitely be delving into.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Penguin Random House Australia, and Charlotte McConaghy for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 4th March 2025.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship