After reading positive reviews, I decided to give BookSirens a try. I am glad I did, as both books I read from them this month were highly enjoyable but not necessarily ones I would normally select. This will be a great addition alongside NetGalley. For more about the books I discovered, keep reading.

As always, thank you to NetGalley for providing me with these ARCs. Thank you also to BookSirens.

may & june roundup

If Anything Happens to Me (NetGalley)

Author: Luanne Rice
Publication Date: 9/17/2024

Luanne Rice’s latest young adult thriller If Anything Happens to Me is an intriguing tale of the evil born out of desperation.

Teenager Oli is a Girl with Too Much Responsibility, and she has felt that even more since her sister Eloise’s unsolved murder. When Oli stumbles across Iris at the scene where Eloise’s body was found, she realizes this girl and her lost memories are the key to finding her sister’s murderer. As the pair works to unlock what Iris has hidden away, Oli realizes how close to home the murderer lurks.

This is a fast-paced thriller with clever twists throughout the book. While some aspects of the story are a bit predictable (there are some rather obvious clues), the concept behind why the murders are occurring is compelling. Iris and Oli make a smart duo, which is always refreshing when featuring teenage girls as leads, and the little romances throughout have a sweetness to them.

Perhaps the most interesting element of the book is the villain’s argument of the end justifying the means. While the villain loses the argument in the fight, the debate between the characters is compelling and adds depth to the story. The depictions of familial love are so different throughout the book and Rice does a good job showing how these relationships shape her characters.

A solid choice for a young adult thriller, Rice will keep her readers on their toes.

Here One Moment (NetGalley)

Author: Liane Moriarty
Publication Date: 9/10/2024

A group of strangers on a plane find their lives forever changed (and sometimes connected) in Liane Moriarty’s latest.

When the woman who will become known as the “Lady of Death” (actual name: Cherry) starts dispensing her predictions for each passenger's age and cause of death, she is met with mixed reviews. Some of her fellow travelers are entertained, some are confused, and some are terrified. When a few predictions come true post-flight, it leads to a butterfly effect.

Throughout the book, Cherry’s narration intersperses with the details of the other characters and their lives. Moriarty does a lovely job tying them all together, and you can’t help but feel invested in the characters and their journeys. It also forces the reader to think about whether we have control over our destiny.

As there are several characters and backstories in the book, it is long, and some of Cherry’s background could be edited down. However, readers of Moriarty will recognize her signature style in the narration, and it helps add depth to the characters. This is, at its core, a book about love, loss, and how we try and control our uncontrollable lives. The result is a tale that is both funny and heartbreaking, sometimes simultaneously.

Caveat: My rule (generally) is to keep myself out of my reading and reviews, so I was taken aback by the impact this book had on me. Perhaps it is because I am postpartum and have always struggled with anxiety, but the characters resonated with me. This was especially the case with Paula, an anxious mother struggling with OCD. I am certain my view is biased because I had an emotional response to the book, and I feel compelled to add the caveat.

This would be a great selection for a book group.

Dead Money (NetGalley)

Author: Jakob Kerr
Publication Date: 1/28/2025

One tech genius is murdered, and another is missing in this riveting debut mystery from author Jakob Kerr.

When MacKenzie Clyde, a lawyer turned Silicon Valley fixer, is tasked with finding out who killed billionaire Trevor Cannon, she knows she is in over her head. Soon, as she works with FBI agent Danner, she learns she is also in danger. While they search for Trevor’s killer (and his missing colleague Stan), MacKenzie unravels the truth and learns she is closely linked to what is happening.

This is a fast-paced and suspenseful thriller with well-thought-out twists and turns. The parts that seem more predictable even have elements of surprise within.  MacKenzie is a strong narrator; there is a coldness to her, but it works with the story, and the flashbacks to her past are essential to rounding her out as a character. Her motivations behind everything she does become clear throughout.

Author Kerr once worked in the tech industry, and he perfectly captures the ego and drive that can exist in that environment. From self-important founders to ruthless VCs, this is a depiction of the dark side of tech. With intricately woven details and an intriguing protagonist, it is a solid debut mystery with the potential for more to follow. It would be great to have more of MacKenzie and Danner in the future.

The Art of Pretend (NetGalley)

Author: Lauren Kuhl
Publication Date: 7/9/2024

 In Lauren Kuhl’s debut novel The Art of Pretend, protagonist Ren is a bit of a lost soul. Her apartment is less desirable, her job is thankless, and her love life is unrequited; this is not the life she envisioned when she graduated from NYU.

Ren wants more out of life, but it is hard to find the motivation, and it does not help she has been stuck being her best friend Etta’s shadow since college. When Etta leaves for Barcelona, Ren finds herself lost and lonely and latches on to the next best thing: Etta’s brother Archer. As their relationship deepens, Ren finds herself unsure of what she wants, and at risk of losing everything.

This is a bit reminiscent of early Bret Easton Ellis (but without (most of) the sex and drugs), with the brooding tone of overprivileged intellectuals who lack self-awareness. As a result, the reader feels invested in characters who are either not the most likable (Etta) or too aloof (Archer). This is likely the result of Ren being the sole narrator; it would have been more compelling and added more depth had Etta and Archer’s points of view also been shared.

While the plot moves slowly, it is well-written and a solid debut. Kuhl captures the environment well, and fans of Saltburn and Gossip Girl will appreciate the atmosphere she creates. It will be interesting to see what Kuhl does next.

The Reunion Party (NetGalley)

Author: Penny Bachelor
Publication Date: 6/25/2024

The Reunion Party, Penny Batchelor’s latest, features five friends reuniting 25 years after the death of their ringleader, Tania. Gathered at a remote boutique hotel where cell phones are forbidden, the group soon finds they are not alone, and this remembrance is about to take a dark turn.

Books where a group of former friends find themselves stuck in a remote setting with someone out to get them is always a fun trope, even if it is a common one. The setting of this book works well, and having alternating narration for the chapters helps move the plot along quickly. As the book progresses, it is easy to unravel how each person plays the role of an unreliable narrator. We learn everyone is hiding something, and questions remain about what happened to Tania.

While the book has entertaining elements, the plot takes some odd twists, and the characters could use more depth. After all, it isn't easy to believe Tania was a charismatic figure when she reads as flat, and Jeannie is a little too normal to fit the role of obsessed friend.

Ultimately, this is a decent read for anyone wanting a quick and light thriller, but the unbelievable twists and turns coupled with bland characters make it fall short of being a nail-biter.  

The Summer Dare (NetGalley)

Author: Joanna Dodd
Publication Date: 7/11/2024

Joanna Dodd’s latest psychological thriller, The Summer Dare, follows a group of adult friends as they find they can no longer run from a dark secret in their past.

When teenager Maddie disappears after a dare gone wrong, her friends vow to keep their part in it a secret. After all, why should their lives be ruined for a mistake they made as children? However, as they approach the 25th anniversary of Maddie vanishing, it becomes clear someone does know their secret and wants them to pay.

Told in alternating timelines from the perspective of Lucy (a new mother and the misfit of the group), the truth behind what happened is slowly unraveled throughout. Lucy is an okay protagonist, though she does not read as intelligent enough for the role. Uncharitably speaking, she is a bit of an idiot. If someone remotely intelligent is being stalked, they aren’t about to walk to the store alone in the dark just because they are craving chocolate; this is the book equivalent of running upstairs instead of out the door in a horror movie.

Frustrating main character aside, the book is well written, and the plot is compelling, though too much is revealed throughout to make the twist at the end much of a shock. This will make for a fun beach read for fans of the genre.

Until next time - cheers and happy reading! Follow me on Instagram for more updates.