The Meadowbrook Murders by Jessica Goodman My rating: 2 of 5 stars The Gist There’s a pattern emerging in recent YA mystery novels. Many open with shocking crimes, but instead of delivering suspense or tension, they turn into high school drama with a light thriller filter. The Meadowbrook Murders follows that path—and loses its way almost immediately. The Details The book starts strong with a double murder. It sets up a small town shaken by tragedy, and I expected secrets, tension, and a search for answers. But the plot quickly drifts. Rather than focusing on the mystery, it fixates on cliques, grudges, and social politics. The murder takes a backseat.…
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The Last Confession of Autumn Casterly
The Last Confession of Autumn Casterly by Meredith Tate My rating: 5 of 5 stars ⚠️ Trigger Warning: This book contains references to sexual assault, drug use, and emotional trauma. Please proceed with care. The Gist The Last Confession of Autumn Casterly is not just a thriller—it’s a powerful, emotionally raw narrative that speaks volumes about the unspoken pain too many people carry. From the very first chapter, the story pulls you into Autumn’s life and doesn’t let go. Her voice, even when silenced by others, feels loud, sharp, and unforgettable. The Details Autumn Casterly isn’t your typical protagonist. She’s flawed, guarded, and unapologetically angry. But most of all, she’s…
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Lying in the Deep
Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban My rating: 3 of 5 stars The Gist When I picked up Lying in the Deep, I was ready to be hooked. A semester-at-sea program. A murder on board. An isolated cruise ship full of secrets. That setup should’ve practically written itself into a suspenseful, claustrophobic thriller. And for a while, it really seemed like it would. The Details But once I got past the first few chapters, it became clear that this book wasn’t going to lean into the eerie, locked-room mystery I expected. Instead, it swerved into full-blown teenage drama — complete with jealousy, romantic angst, and more irrational decision-making than…
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Murder at Haven’s Rock
Murder at Haven’s Rock by Kelley Armstrong My rating: 1 of 5 stars The Gist Reading Murder at Haven’s Rock felt like crashing a reunion where everyone else already knows each other—and you weren’t even invited. Kelley Armstrong throws readers straight into the thick of a story that assumes you’ve completed her entire Rockton series beforehand. Newsflash: I hadn’t. And apparently, that means this book was not meant for me. The Details Right from page one, I was lost. Characters popped up like old friends at a high school reunion, dropping references I didn’t understand and engaging in relationships I couldn’t care about. I kept flipping pages hoping for some…
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Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales
Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Gist Heather Fawcett has done something magical with the Emily Wilde trilogy, and this final installment, Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales, is a masterpiece in quiet fantasy. It’s the kind of book you clutch to your chest after reading—the kind that lingers in your heart and makes you believe in the strange and beautiful all over again. The Details The Scholar Returns—Sharper, Braver, and Still Herself Emily Wilde remains one of the most distinct and refreshing protagonists in fantasy. She’s brilliant, socially stilted, and completely uninterested in playing the polite academic. Yet her…
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The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds
The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds by Jennifer Moorman My rating: 5 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds by Jennifer Moorman hooked me from the very first page. This novel blends a captivating mystery with a heartwarming small-town vibe, creating a reading experience that feels both comforting and exciting. The Details The story centers on Josephine Reynolds, an ordinary woman who disappears without a trace. But this isn’t just a typical mystery. Moorman uses Josephine’s disappearance as…
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Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Gist Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is a masterfully written sequel that deepens every element I loved in the first book. Heather Fawcett has once again crafted a story that feels like curling up by a hearth with a cup of tea—only to be swept into ancient forests, mischievous faerie courts, and the bittersweet truths of the human (and fae) heart. The Details We return to the journals of Emily Wilde, the fiercely independent and marvelously awkward dryadologist whose passion for faerie research remains unmatched. Her voice continues to shine—wry, intelligent, and deeply…
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The Dare
The Dare by Natasha Preston My rating: 4 of 5 stars The Gist The Dare by Natasha Preston is a gripping young adult thriller that doesn’t waste time pulling you into its twisted world. From the very first chapter, the story teases out guilt, trauma, and the ripple effect of one horrifying night. It’s eerie, fast-paced, and packed with enough secrets to keep you second-guessing everyone. The Details When Leah dies during a dare at a sleepover, the tragedy should have ended there. But for Mackenzie, the real horror begins after. She’s drowning in guilt and clutching a secret that could destroy everything. As threatening messages start rolling in, Mackenzie…
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The Vacancy in Room 10
The Vacancy in Room 10 by Seraphina Nova Glass My rating: 4 of 5 stars The Gist Seraphina Nova Glass once again proves her skill at crafting smart, character-driven suspense with The Vacancy in Room 10. This psychological thriller grabs you from the opening chapter and keeps the tension simmering until the final page. It’s eerie, emotional, and impossible to put down. The Details The story follows Anna Hartley, a woman who’s been through hell. She’s running from a messy life—loss, addiction, regret—and lands at the weathered Sycamore Motel, nestled along the quiet Texas coast. Her plan is to disappear. But when she learns that a woman vanished from Room…
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Starling House
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow My rating: 1 of 5 stars The Gist Starling House lured me in with its promise of Southern Gothic atmosphere, mysterious magic, and a heroine haunted by both grief and ghosts. I was ready for lyrical storytelling and a deeply unsettling house with a mind of its own. What I got instead was a meandering non-story drowning in its own metaphors—and a narrator whose dreamy tone nearly lulled me into a coma. The Details A Plot as Hollow as the House I’m not even sure how to describe the plot. The setup takes forever, the stakes feel imaginary, and the so-called climax arrives so…
