The Perfect Sister by Stephanie DeCarolis

 Title: The Perfect Sister by Stephanie DeCarolis

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine - Bantam

Release Date: July 16, 2024

Alex Walker leaves her small hometown in Pennsylvania for the affluent shores of the Hamptons in search of her missing sister, Maddie. The last time she saw Maddie was at their mother's funeral, where harsh words were exchanged. Alex knew that no matter how much distance was between them, Maddie would never forget to call her on her birthday. When Alex's birthday comes and goes with no call, she just knows that something is wrong. She spots a clue to Maddie's location in the last selfie that her sister sent her so she takes leave from work and heads to the Hamptons.

After speaking to Maddie's employer she learns that Maddie hasn't been seen in days. She's able to get Maddie's last known address and is surprised to learn that it's not a hotel. She's even more surprised to find it's a rather large mansion. 

The inhabitants of the mansion are Lily, Katherine, Theo and James - the Maxwell family. They welcome Alex to their home and express concern about Maddie's disappearance but something seems off to Alex. They seem like the perfect family with the perfect home but she wonders if maybe they are a little too perfect.

Alex also goes to the police and they don't take her worries seriously. She decides to investigate herself and in doing so she soon realizes that the sister she was close to her whole life may well be a stranger.

This book is filled with secrets and intrigue and twists. The author does her best to keep you guessing. Her scene descriptions are vivid and compelling. She also explores some of the feelings between the "haves and have nots" but does so in a way that's not pushy or overshadowing to the plot.

Her characters are well written and you either love them, hate them or pity them. I despised Katherine. No spoilers though, you'll have to read the book and see how you feel about her. All the characters, even the secondary characters, were fleshed out extremely well.

A good thriller usually has a twist and this one had a few to keep you turning the page. I enjoyed this book immensely and I strongly advise everyone to get a copy. It would be perfect for either a beach read or something for a rainy day under a blanket. You won't want to put it down, I know I sure didn't!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine - Bantam for giving me an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

 Title: Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

Publisher: William Morrow

Release Date: June 11, 2024

As an avid horror fan, this book sounded like it would be right up my alley. Unfortunately, that proved not to be the case.

The book was written from the point of view of someone I'll call the "Narrator" as we never learn his name. He is writing a companion to an audiobook about a 1993 movie that was partially released online and became a cult hit. There are multiple times lines which include present, recent past, 1993, and sections of the movie's script. The Narrator is the only surviving member of the cast of the original movie. Hollywood and The Narrator are trying to make a reboot of the film.

The multiple timelines can be confusing and convoluted at times which makes the book somewhat hard to read. There are also long sections without dialogue that ramble on for what feels like forever. The "horror" aspect of the book was more disturbing than scary. Most of the book was about bullying.

The ending felt rushed and added on for dramatic effect rather than neatly ending the story. It left me staring at my Kindle wondering what the heck I just read. I love a good horror story whether it be film or novel and this book didn't feel like horror at all to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.  

Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown

 Title: Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine - Bantam

Release Date: August 13, 2024

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This book is told via the dual point of view and dual timelines of sisters Maya and Naomi. This can get confusing at times so you'll really want to read this book when you can give it your full attention. 

Maya returns to Princeton for her reunion and her younger sister Naomi's graduation. When Naomi doesn't show up to one of the scheduled events, Maya begins to worry. She's soon devastated to learn that police have discovered Naomi's body and are ruling her death an accident. After a conversation with the police, Maya is convinced that her sister was murdered. She starts to investigate on her own.

Maya discovers that she may not have known her sister as well as she thought. Despite Maya's warning, Naomi had joined Sterling Club, an exclusive social club. Even worse, she had be tapped to join the secret society that operates through Sterling Club. Maya knows all about it because she too was once a member. 

Upon more digging around, Maya finds out that Naomi was digging into the secrets and past of the secret society. Maya is worried that the society was involved with Naomi's death, but how can she convince the police without revealing her own secret past?

I really wanted to like this book. The premise was intriguing. Who doesn't like to read about a secret society?

Unfortunately, the parts about the society felt lackluster. It wasn't very exciting at all. I kept hoping the drama would amp up and it just didn't. Parts of the book required a complete suspension of disbelief and the ending felt rushed. It wasn't  my favorite book this year, but I'd be willing to give the author another chance in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine - Bantam for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for me honest review.

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

Title: Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey

Release Date: June 25, 2024

Who would have thought that a thriller told from the POV of a child would be so compelling and scary? I sure didn't. Josh Malerman perfectly captures the confusion, terror, and heartbreak that this young girl, Bela, is feeling from the very first page. It may be disconcerting to some but Bela's POV really works.

Bela's life consists of her Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth. What her family doesn't know is that Bela also relies on an entity called Other Mommy that lives in her closet. Other Mommy starts out friendly and Bela quickly becomes attached to her. As time goes on, Other Mommy starts to ask disturbing questions and doing things that scare Bela. She starts to question whether she and Other Mommy were ever really friends, or if Other Mommy has bad plans for her.

Other Mommy starts getting bolder. She starts showing herself to other people. Bela's parents are terrified and their strained relationship starts to buckle under the pressure. Bela wonders what will happen if she says yes to Other Mommy's questions? Will she be able to make Other Mommy go away? Can she save her family?

I'm glad I read this book during the day as some parts of the story were absolutely chilling. Certain parts are still stuck in my head and creeping me out. Don't worry, no spoilers, you'll have to read and be terrified for yourself to understand. The scares are masterfully written and that they are being experienced from Bela's point of view really heightens the terror.

I finished this book in five hours. I just could not put it down. It's fast paced but in such a way as to keep the tension level high. Josh Malerman is an exceptional storyteller and this book will keep you on edge until the very last line. I would love to see this made into a movie. I highly recommend reading this with the lights on and I promise you will never look at your closet the same way again. 

So many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Del Rey for the advanced reader copy of an incredible book.

Man's Best Friend by Alana B. Lytle

Title: Man's Best Friend by Alana B Lytle

Publisher: Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons

Release Date: May 14, 2024 

I requested this book based upon the blurb. Sadly, it did not live up to expectations.

El is a failed actress turned bakery employee. She's almost 30 but is wandering aimlessly through life. The one thing that she dwells on is her 8th grade year. She was on scholarship to an exclusive school and was befriended by Anna and Julia. They were everything that El wished she could be, wealthy and popular. She was determined to one day be just like them.

At one of Julia's parties, El bumps into a man named Bryce. He's not super attractive and he's kind of a loner but he and El start dating. She starts calling out from her job and alienating her friends. After moving in with Bryce, she begins noticing red flags about him, but they are co-dependent on each other in a toxic way. She soon finds out the truth about him. What will she do with the truth?

There are zero likable characters in this book. El is narcissistic, lazy, desperate, and worst of all whiny. Bryce is bland and unassuming and clingy. The side characters are just as bad, a typical portrayal of rich people who all are self-absorbed with major drug and alcohol problems. 

The bits of suspense that seemed interesting were rushed through or glossed over. The dream sequences and parts about the dogs were jarring and pulled you out of the story. The writing itself was good but the story fell flat. It was a struggle to finish the book and the ending was unbelievable. Based on the author's writing style, I would like to see what they come up with next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advance reader copy to review.

Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead by Jenny Hollander

Title: Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead by Jenny Hollander

Publisher: St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books

Release Date: February 6, 2024

Charlie Colbert is the editor-in-chief of a major magazine who seemingly has the perfect life. She's successful at her job and engaged to a wealthy heir to a publishing empire. One thing she's hell-bent on forgetting is an event from her past. A survivor of "Scarlet Christmas", Charlie suffers from memory loss and survivor's guilt. She wants nothing more than to move on but a relative of one of the victims wants to dig everything up. They want to release a movie about the events of that night.

Charlie doesn't want that to happen. She's afraid that the truth will come out about that night and the lies she has built her life on will unravel. She's desperate to stop the films release and is worried about the lengths she will go to.

Told from Charlie's point of view, the book alternates between the present and through the past. The past is told as Charlie has sessions with her therapist in an effort to recover the pieces of the past that she's forgotten. As the movie's release is announced it's a race to figure out what happened, and figure out why she's carrying so much guilt. Will the answers crumble her carefully constructed life?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were a few twists and turns that kept me guessing. The ending was okay, with everything tied up neatly, but it worked for this book. It's a solid debut novel, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the author comes up with next.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for an advance reader copy of this book.

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

Title: House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Release Date: August 6, 2024

Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney that represents children involved in custody cases. She takes on 9 year old Rose Barclay as a client as a favor to her mentor, Charlie. Rose witnessed her nanny's fall from a window and possible murder and immediately stopped speaking. Charlie believes that since Stella went through a traumatic childhood herself that she is the only one who can reach Rose. Stella is reluctant but still vows to do all she can to help Rose.

As Stella starts her investigation at the Barclays home, she learns that everyone is a suspect, even little Rose. The father had affair and impregnated the nanny. The mother is uptight and has a sudden fear of anything glass so there is nothing glass in the house. The paternal grandmother seems to carry a hatred for her son. Rose has a collection of sharp objects. Stella has a feeling of dread every time she visits the home but she can't quite put her finger on the cause of it.

The more Stella investigates, the more memories of her own past trauma start to resurface. She decides to start looking into the circumstances surrounding her mother's death. Will she finally learn the truth? Will she be able to save Rose? Or is Rose the murderer?

This book was a real page turner and I finished it in a day. Stella's flaws make her a very believable and likeable character. The contrasts and conflicts between the mother and father were relatable as well. The ending was good.

The only complaint I have is regarding Stella's association with a police detective. I wish it had been fleshed out more. It felt a bit rushed and almost like an afterthought.

All in all this book was a great read. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance reader copy.