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reading_under_covers's reviews
1553 reviews
She's a Lamb! by Meredith Hambrock
4.0
"Because this is it. This is finally it. My life as I know it is about to change. Forever."
Meredith Hambrock really brought us something special in SHE'S A LAMB.
Reading this right after seeing Sunset Boulevard was very much a *chef's freakin kiss,* stars in alignment moment. Jessamyn St. Germain is our Norma Desmond and we LOVE her for it.
Our main girl was unhinged in every way and, being someone who has been around actors of every variety a good amount of my life, there were so many aspects of her that felt so real lurking underneath all the delulu.
I was lowkey rooting for her and her dream of becoming Maria and really just had such a fun time reading this one!
Thanks to the author for my early copy for review - this book is out April 8!
Meredith Hambrock really brought us something special in SHE'S A LAMB.
Reading this right after seeing Sunset Boulevard was very much a *chef's freakin kiss,* stars in alignment moment. Jessamyn St. Germain is our Norma Desmond and we LOVE her for it.
Our main girl was unhinged in every way and, being someone who has been around actors of every variety a good amount of my life, there were so many aspects of her that felt so real lurking underneath all the delulu.
I was lowkey rooting for her and her dream of becoming Maria and really just had such a fun time reading this one!
Thanks to the author for my early copy for review - this book is out April 8!
Karma Never Sleeps by R. John Dingle
4.0
"When it comes to small towns, there are always secrets."
FBI agent Gus Wheeler is called in to investigate a possible serial killing in a small coastal town when the second woman in a group of friends who go by "the posse" is found murdered. With a long list of possible suspects and victims and being stonewalled at all corners, Gus must determine whose secrets are the most deadly.
KARMA NEVER SLEEPS by R. John Dingle is a small town crime novel featuring a large cast of characters (both human and non) and so many secrets, you won't know who to believe!
I have always and will always love a thriller set in a small town - everyone knows a little too much about one another and a lot are willing to do whatever it takes to keep their image clean - it's one of the worst places for an FBI agent to be dropped in and I loved how Dingle utilized it here!
This story also features the cliquiest of cliques - it's giving Big Little Lies - which feeds into the drama of moving the story along.
Overall, this was a great debut that I think will appeal to a lot of crime fiction readers!
Huge thanks to the author for sending an early copy my way in exchange for an honest review!
Publication Date: April 14
FBI agent Gus Wheeler is called in to investigate a possible serial killing in a small coastal town when the second woman in a group of friends who go by "the posse" is found murdered. With a long list of possible suspects and victims and being stonewalled at all corners, Gus must determine whose secrets are the most deadly.
KARMA NEVER SLEEPS by R. John Dingle is a small town crime novel featuring a large cast of characters (both human and non) and so many secrets, you won't know who to believe!
I have always and will always love a thriller set in a small town - everyone knows a little too much about one another and a lot are willing to do whatever it takes to keep their image clean - it's one of the worst places for an FBI agent to be dropped in and I loved how Dingle utilized it here!
This story also features the cliquiest of cliques - it's giving Big Little Lies - which feeds into the drama of moving the story along.
Overall, this was a great debut that I think will appeal to a lot of crime fiction readers!
Huge thanks to the author for sending an early copy my way in exchange for an honest review!
Publication Date: April 14
The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose
4.0
Molly the Maid is back in another charming mystery set at the Regency Grand Hotel!
When the hit tv show Hidden Treasures arrives at the hotel. staff members scramble to find their valuables to have them appraised - only for Molly to discover that one of her treasures is worth more than imagined.
While this story starts off at the Regency and has our same usual cast of characters, a majority of this book is told through Gran's journal entries, allowing us a huge look at her life growing up, which I loved!
The format and genre definitely lean more historical fiction with the cozy mystery being a very small layer, but I really enjoyed it - Gran's backstory was both beautiful and heartbreaking, so I'm glad we finally got to learn it.
Rumor has it this might be the last book in this series š and if that's the case, I think this book makes for a beautiful conclusion!
Thanks to Ballantine for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Publication Date: April 8
When the hit tv show Hidden Treasures arrives at the hotel. staff members scramble to find their valuables to have them appraised - only for Molly to discover that one of her treasures is worth more than imagined.
While this story starts off at the Regency and has our same usual cast of characters, a majority of this book is told through Gran's journal entries, allowing us a huge look at her life growing up, which I loved!
The format and genre definitely lean more historical fiction with the cozy mystery being a very small layer, but I really enjoyed it - Gran's backstory was both beautiful and heartbreaking, so I'm glad we finally got to learn it.
Rumor has it this might be the last book in this series š and if that's the case, I think this book makes for a beautiful conclusion!
Thanks to Ballantine for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Publication Date: April 8
The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean
4.5
Wow - the hype for this book is so well-deserved.
The alternating timelines and POVs turned this story into a page-turner and the characters were packed with depth, adding a really nice emotion to the story as well.
Will definitely be keeping an eye out for any future thriller works from Emiko!
The alternating timelines and POVs turned this story into a page-turner and the characters were packed with depth, adding a really nice emotion to the story as well.
Will definitely be keeping an eye out for any future thriller works from Emiko!
The Last Session by Julia Bartz
3.5
"Are you the savior? Or will you save her?"
Julia Bartz's sophomore novel THE LAST SESSION follows social worker Thea in a psychiatric unit in New York. One day, a woman shows up in their unit, catatonic, and she looks awfully familiar to Thea. By the time she realizes how she knows her, she's been taken away, leaving behind clues for Thea that leads her into the depths of the desert and into the hands of a podcasting couple determined to solve her barriers to romance and intimacy.
This book grabbed me in from page one (but loosened its grip a bit in the final quarter š¬).
This story is propulsive, intoxicating, and culty, which felt extremely fitting for this day and age. The "romance retreat" reminded me a lot of Twin Flames Universe and the lengths people with desperation are willing to go to for healing.
Like I mentioned earlier, the last quarter really took a turn and not in a way that I enjoyed, though I can see some readers really getting a kick out of it!
Overall, I didn't love this one as much as THE WRITING RETREAT, but I can't deny that Julia knows how to write in a way that will hook you in!
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Publication Date: April 1
Julia Bartz's sophomore novel THE LAST SESSION follows social worker Thea in a psychiatric unit in New York. One day, a woman shows up in their unit, catatonic, and she looks awfully familiar to Thea. By the time she realizes how she knows her, she's been taken away, leaving behind clues for Thea that leads her into the depths of the desert and into the hands of a podcasting couple determined to solve her barriers to romance and intimacy.
This book grabbed me in from page one (but loosened its grip a bit in the final quarter š¬).
This story is propulsive, intoxicating, and culty, which felt extremely fitting for this day and age. The "romance retreat" reminded me a lot of Twin Flames Universe and the lengths people with desperation are willing to go to for healing.
Like I mentioned earlier, the last quarter really took a turn and not in a way that I enjoyed, though I can see some readers really getting a kick out of it!
Overall, I didn't love this one as much as THE WRITING RETREAT, but I can't deny that Julia knows how to write in a way that will hook you in!
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Publication Date: April 1
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
2.0
My second read by Jason Rekulak has me questioning more and more dudeās intentions with his very political characters.
I will say, I did enjoy a good amount of this story - unlikable characters paired with a fancy summer camp wedding destination really go hand in hand for me when it comes to something I can relish in!
However, this book leans conservative with our main character being an older white man and having some very holier-than-thou, back in my day views - whether we were supposed to just hate him the whole time or these views felt ānormalā to the writer is unknown - and, after the transphobic nightmare that was Hidden Pictures, i was hesitant to go any further with this authorā¦
That being said, and considering Q&As where Rekulak has said that he isnāt transphobic, this book still managed to have a character aspiring to be like the author of the Harry Potter books in addition to two other direct references to Harry Potter - none of which was relevant to the story in any way. Rekulak, what is going on?!? Genuinely confused by why any of that was added to the story other than to remind me of why I hated Hidden Pictures so much š
I will say, I did enjoy a good amount of this story - unlikable characters paired with a fancy summer camp wedding destination really go hand in hand for me when it comes to something I can relish in!
However, this book leans conservative with our main character being an older white man and having some very holier-than-thou, back in my day views - whether we were supposed to just hate him the whole time or these views felt ānormalā to the writer is unknown - and, after the transphobic nightmare that was Hidden Pictures, i was hesitant to go any further with this authorā¦
That being said, and considering Q&As where Rekulak has said that he isnāt transphobic, this book still managed to have a character aspiring to be like the author of the Harry Potter books in addition to two other direct references to Harry Potter - none of which was relevant to the story in any way. Rekulak, what is going on?!? Genuinely confused by why any of that was added to the story other than to remind me of why I hated Hidden Pictures so much š
Deadstream by Mar Romasco-Moore
4.0
"It still scares her fresh, every time she sees the footage. Her own face. Her own room. The door creaking open."
After surviving a car crash that took her best friend, Teresa has been unable to leave the safety of her bedroom. As a streamer, she has everything she could need - her games and access to her own favorite streamers. However, one night, one of these streamers is haunted by a shadowy figure during one of their livestreams and several days later, dies on-stream. Teresa thinks she might be the only one with answers and must face leaving the safety of her room in order to save her friends.
DEADSTREAM by Mar Romasco-Moore is a fast-paced, multimedia thriller for all the gaming youths in your life! (lol I am now someone who uses the term "youths" š)
What I loved about this story was the fact that even though a majority of it takes place in a single room, since it's centered on streamers, you get a look at several different characters, their lives and fans, and the games they each have found a niche in. I also loved that the story was interspersed with a "chat" feature so you got to see others interacting with these characters as well!
The LGBTQIA rep was also so great to see, and the power of friendship really came through!
I really enjoyed this one despite never being a gamer!
Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Publication Date: April 1
After surviving a car crash that took her best friend, Teresa has been unable to leave the safety of her bedroom. As a streamer, she has everything she could need - her games and access to her own favorite streamers. However, one night, one of these streamers is haunted by a shadowy figure during one of their livestreams and several days later, dies on-stream. Teresa thinks she might be the only one with answers and must face leaving the safety of her room in order to save her friends.
DEADSTREAM by Mar Romasco-Moore is a fast-paced, multimedia thriller for all the gaming youths in your life! (lol I am now someone who uses the term "youths" š)
What I loved about this story was the fact that even though a majority of it takes place in a single room, since it's centered on streamers, you get a look at several different characters, their lives and fans, and the games they each have found a niche in. I also loved that the story was interspersed with a "chat" feature so you got to see others interacting with these characters as well!
The LGBTQIA rep was also so great to see, and the power of friendship really came through!
I really enjoyed this one despite never being a gamer!
Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Publication Date: April 1
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Murder
The Haunting of Room 904 by Erika T. Wurth
3.5
The first half of this book had me in a chokehold! The lore around the spirits was really fascinating.
By the latter half, the story felt a bit too disjointed for my taste, which was even more apparent when compared to my love for the beginning.
By the latter half, the story felt a bit too disjointed for my taste, which was even more apparent when compared to my love for the beginning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
4.5
My favorite of Shariās work so far!
This is a locked room mystery set at a fancy, old-fashioned hotel during a snow storm - literally couldnāt check any more of my boxes!
This is a locked room mystery set at a fancy, old-fashioned hotel during a snow storm - literally couldnāt check any more of my boxes!