Like the Comet

July was a SOLID month of reading for me. I haven’t binge read like this in a while and it was a welcomed return to my old reading habits.

I spent the first two weeks of this month taking some time off of work to relax, go camping, and take a trip out to Cape Cod for a few days. The extra down time was well needed and if you haven’t taken a vacation from work in a while, this is your sign to do so!

Somehow, I developed a mystery/thriller kick this month with some romance and sci-fi dystopian books mixed in. I can’t say everything I read was a banger, but most didn’t let me down.

So, without further delay, let’s get into everything I read in July!

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

RAZORBLADE TEARS by S.A. Crosby

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Ike Randolph has been out of jail for fifteen years, with not so much as a speeding ticket in all that time. But a Black man with cops at the door knows to be afraid. The last thing he expects to hear is that his son, Isaiah, has been murdered, along with Isaiah’s white husband, Derek. Ike had never fully accepted his son but is devastated by his loss. Derek’s father, Buddy Lee, was almost as ashamed of Derek for being gay as Derek was ashamed of his father’s criminal record. Buddy Lee still has contacts in the underworld, though, and he wants to know who killed his boy. Ike and Buddy Lee, two ex-cons with little in common other than a criminal past and a love for their dead sons, band together in their desperate desire for revenge. In their quest to do better for their sons in death than they did in life, these hardened men will confront their own prejudices about their sons and each other as they rain down vengeance upon those who hurt their boys.

My Thoughts: Wow this book was so freaking good! Between the amazing revenge plot, phenomenal character arcs, and LGBTQIA+ reps, I was absolutely hooked! Although the main storyline focuses on Buddy Lee and Ike getting revenge on the people who killed their sons in cold blood, it was beautiful how they were forced to confront their own bigotry in the process. As two ex-cons, they approach this deadly mission in the most low key criminal way which provided a handful of violent scenes that made me want to cover my eyes. There is the perfect amount of comedic relief (via mostly Buddly Lee) sprinkled in to counterbalance the darker scenes though. This book is such a page turner and I cannot recommend it enough!

PAPER PRINCESS by Erin Watt

Rating: 2/5 stars

Summary: These Royals will ruin you… Ella Harper is a survivor - a pragmatic optimist. She’s spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she’ll climb out of the gutter. After her mother’s death, Ella is truly alone. Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums she came from. Reed doesn’t want her. He says she doesn’t belong with the Royals. He might be right. Wealth. Excess. Deception. It’s like nothing Ella has ever experienced and if she’s going to survive her time in the Royal palace, she’ll need to learn to issue her own Royal decrees.

My Thoughts: Y’all. I don’t even know what to say lol. I feel like I was trying to decide how I felt about this book the entire time I read it. It was almost like a hate-read but I can’t say I hated it? This book has been on my radar for a few years now. I first heard about it from the Bad On Paper podcast during which they prefaced that it is absolute TRASH. So, it’s not like I didn’t know that going into it, but by golly lol. This shit was TRASHY. It was objectively good writing. Nothing was poor about the writing at its core. However, this book is so outrageous and trying so hard to be sexy that it’s almost distracting? There is just zero class to it lmao. Like Ella is kind of an annoying main character, but she’s the best main character for this storyline. So I can’t even say she was a shit character because she makes complete sense in this context. The plot and pace is a little all over the place, but also felt appropriate for what we’re experiencing. The ending is sooooooo fuckin random though. lololol. I honestly can’t recommend this book, but I do know people who love it. This is also coming from me, who couldn’t put down Ice Planet Barbarians, so take that as you will lmao. I guess when it comes to trashy romances, this one was just a little too try-hard and trashy for me.

EVERY SUMMER AFTER by Carley Fortune

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: They say you can never go home again, and for Persephone Fraser, ever since she made the biggest mistake of her life a decade ago, that has felt too true. Instead of glittering summers on the lakeshore of her childhood, she spends them in a stylish apartment in the city, going out with friends, and keeping everyone a safe distance from her heart. Until she receives the call that sends her racing back to Barry’s Bay and into the orbit of Sam Florek - the man she never thought she’d have to live without. For six summers, through hazy afternoons on the water and warm summer nights working in his family’s restaurant and curling up together with books - medical textbooks for him and work-in-progress horror short stories for her - Percy and Sam had been inseparable. Eventually that friendship turned into something breathtakingly more, before it fell spectacularly apart. When Percy returns to the lake for Sam’s mother’s funeral, their connection is as undeniable as it had always been. But until Percy can confront the decisions she made and the years she’s spent punishing herself for them, they’ll never know whether their love might be bigger than the biggest mistakes of their past. Told over the course of six years and one weekend, Every Summer After is a big, sweeping nostalgic look at love and the people and choices that mark us forever. Six summers to fall in love. One moment to fall apart. A weekend to get it right.

My Thoughts: Talk about an absolutely PERFECT summer read. I brought this gem with me on a trip to the Cape Cod area and it definitely fit the beachy vacation vibes. I loved the dual timelines as we learn how Percy and Sam’s friendship developed 16 years ago and where their relationship stands currently after Percy returns to the summer town for Sam’s mom’s funeral. The writing of this story was absolutely beautiful and made that cottage-on-the-lake atmosphere come to life. Percy’s character was perfectly imperfect both as a teenager and adult, but through all of her flaws and the mistakes she made, she was still so incredibly likable. Sam was the sweetest guy you could’ve asked for in this romance. He’s not the typical male protagonist and I found that incredibly endearing. I wish we would’ve had his POV in this book too though because I just loved his character so much. The storyline was a little predictable as we got closer to the big reveal of what the blow-up was between Percy and Sam, but I still really loved their story all the same. Honestly, this was just an insanely enjoyable beach read and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for something easy to fly through!

A REAPER AT THE GATES by Sabaa Tahir (REREAD)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Beyond the Martial Empire and within it, the threat of war looms ever larger. Helene Aquilla, the Blood Shrike, is desperate to protect her sister’s life and the lives of everyone in the Empire. Yet danger lurks on all sides. Emperor Marcus, haunted by his past, grows increasingly unstable and violent, while Keris Veturia, the ruthless Commandant, capitalizes on the Emperor’s volatility to grow her own power - regardless of the carnage she leaves in her path. Far to the east, Laia of Serra knows that the fate of the world lies not in the machinations of the Martial court, but in stopping the Nightbringer. During the hunt to bring him down, Laia faces unexpected threats from those she hoped would help her, and is drawn into a battle she never thought she’d have to fight. And in the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freedom to serve as Soul Catcher. However, in doing so, he has vowed himself to an ancient power that demands his complete surrender - even if that means abandoning the woman he loves.

My Thoughts: Continuing on with my reread of An Ember in the Ashes series via audiobook! I gotta admit, I didn’t remember much about what happened in this third book before starting it and by the end I knew why: SO MUCH HAPPENS. Similar to what I said in my original review after I read it the first time, this book starts with a quick pace and rarely slows down until the end. Every character is going through their own shit, and although it all ties together, there are still so many missing pieces that we need to see the bigger picture. I will say, this time around I viscerally felt the defeat plaguing Helene after experiencing multiple failures. It’s almost like everything is falling into place against her and the girl really cannot catch a break. Elias’s character arc is thrown into a tailspin as he starts to fulfill his duty as the new Soul Catcher. In order to do so though, he has to give up everything that makes him human (aka emotions). So, as the most empathetic character in this series, you can imagine the internal struggle he has while trying to do that. Laia’s journey isn’t as memorable for me as the other two characters, but I will say she receives some closure that I felt more emotionally this time around. It was definitely shocking the first time I read it, but the second time hit me more in the feels because I wasn’t surprised by it. Everything is kind of falling to pieces in all of their worlds as an inevitable war between the mortal and immortal worlds starts to take form, but by golly there was a lot of information to absorb in this book lol. Obviously I recommend reading it and I’ll definitely be finishing out this reread experience with the fourth and final book!

CARAVAL by Stephanie Garber

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: A legendary competition. A mesmerizing romance. An unbreakable bond between two sisters. Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful and cruel father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval - the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show - are over. But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner. Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever. Welcome, welcome to Caraval… beware of getting swept too far away.

My Thoughts: I was super hoping to love this book because I’ve only heard great things. Although I did really enjoy my experience with it, a few things just fell flat for me. The premise is really cool - every year exclusive invites are sent out to select people to participate in the magical Caraval - an event that only lasts one week once a year and never happens in the same place twice. Scarlett basically gets kidnapped by her younger sister Tella after they received an invite to this year’s Caraval, even though Scarlett vehemently does not want to go at the risk of pissing off their abusive father. Scarlett wakes up in a dingy boat a few days later with a pirate named Julian who ends up being an unexpected companion in this year’s game of Caraval. I loved the mystery of Scarlett solving the game’s riddles in an effort to find her sister who ends up going missing. There is also a subplot of some shady things happening during Caraval that start to unravel the closer Scarlett gets to finding Tella. My main complaints: the magic system isn’t really written out at all. It’s basically just described as “that’s just how the magic works” with no other explanation. Scarlett’s character is a little annoying for the first half of the book because she’s just playing it too safe and I wanted her to get over her own narrative so badly. The ending wraps up super quickly and is just kind of like “and that’s how that happened!” Which felt super abrupt to me. Will I continue onto the second book? Most likely, yes, but probably not right away.

THE SELECTION by Kiera Cass

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of a gorgeous Prince Maxon. But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself - and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

My Thoughts: This book is basically Hunger Games meets The Bachelor. Although it’s not a life-or-death situation, the structure of society in this dystopian America is divided into eight different castes. People considered to be ones are the elite of society. Twos and threes are just a step below with pretty decent wealth. Fours are fiscally comfortable. Fives or lower are basically poverty or worse. It’s almost impossible to change caste rank unless you marry up or enter the draft. Basically, the royal family’s son (aka Prince Maxon) is at the age and point in life where he needs to find a wife. Women from any caste can enter the lottery to be chosen as their province’s winner for The Selection. America (the main character, not the country lol) doesn’t really want to do it, but because the boy she loves back home breaks up with her, she enters it out of spite. To her surprise, she’s actually chosen and heads off to the royal family’s palace. I loved that her relationship with Prince Maxon is built on a friendship first. She’s upfront and honest with him that she’s nursing a broken heart and has no interest in the crown, but offers to be his eyes and ears within the candidates for his future wife. As their friendship progresses, she becomes more confused because they start to develop some actual feelings for each other. To throw a wrench in that, her ex-love from back home ends up becoming a guard at the palace and confuses her feelings even more. I’d honestly like to learn a little bit more about the politics and nuances of this new United States in terms of its relationship with other governments, but overall, I really enjoyed this premise of The Bachelor in a dystopian world and am excited to see where it all goes!

THE CARTOGRAPHERS by Peng Shepherd

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: What is the purpose of a map? Nell Young’s whole life and greatest passion is cartography. Her father, Dr. Daniel Young, is a legend in the field and Nell’s personal hero. But she hasn’t seen or spoken to him ever since he cruelly fired her and destroyed her reputation after an argument over an old, cheap gas station highway map. But when Dr. Young is found dead in his office at the New York Public Library, with the very same seemingly worthless map hidden in his desk, Nell can’t resist investigating. To her surprise, she soon discovers that the map is incredibly valuable and exceedingly rare. In fact, she may now have the only copy left in existence… because a mysterious collector has been hunting down and destroying every last one - along with anyone who gets in the way. But why? To answer that question, Nell embarks on a dangerous journey to reveal a dark family secret and discovers the true power that lies in maps…

My Thoughts: I was reeeeally hoping that this book was going to take me on a more exciting journey through this dynamic world of cartography. However, this was a bit too much of a slow burn for me. Mind you, I opted for the audiobook route over reading the physical book, but I still think that it would’ve been too slow of a burn for me either way. The various perspectives and dual timelines were a good way to mask the underwhelming pace and I liked Nell’s character enough to buy into her mission of figuring out the significance of the gas station map. The small touches of magical realism were subtle enough to enhance the story without causing a complete disconnect, but I wouldn’t consider this to be a fantasy by any means. It was interesting to learn how the dynamics of her parents’ friend group developed and fell apart and how they played into Nell’s life as an adult. By about halfway through though, it was kind of easy to figure out who the antagonist was even if I didn’t see a couple of plot twists coming towards the end. All in all, I plainly liked this book. I didn’t love it, but I think it has legs. If you’re looking for something with a little mystery, a niche focus (like cartography), and just a touch of magic, then this book could be for you.

THE ELITE by Kiera Cass (The Selection #2)

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: The Selection began with thirty-five girls. Now with the group narrowed down to the six Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon’s heart is fiercer than ever - and America is struggling to decide where her heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen? America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want - and America’s chance to choose is about to slip away.

My Thoughts: Ugh. Okay, so I got what I wanted in terms of learning more about the politics of this new dystopian world. However, America (the main character, not the country lol) was very frustrating throughout this entire book. She was just sooo indecisive. I know part of it is that she’s young and she’s still getting used to being in the spotlight, so her self confidence isn’t quite there yet. The love triangle she’s put herself in with Maxon - who has repeatedly told her she’s his number one choice - and Aspen - who has told her she wouldn’t make a good princess - is a bit repetitive and tiring though. I understand that Aspen is the steady choice because he has no other prospects, whereas Maxon is still dating five other girls. So putting her full heart in his hands requires a LOT of trust in him that she’s just not ready to give. Then something happens in this book involving Marlee - another Selection candidate and America’s best friend - that truly makes her question Maxon’s character and basically wrecks everything they built. However, I feel like her quick assumptions are what truly wrecked the foundation they built when she doesn’t give him a chance to explain anything. I’m hoping the decision she makes at the end of this book is what she FINALLY sticks to in the next one. Outside of The Bachelor drama, there is something SHADY going on with the King and the government. Rebels keep attacking the palace, but one of the main things they’re taking is books… So clearly, the lack of access to history and knowledge is driving some rebellion, but I NEED to know why the King is lying about it and what else he’s been covering up. Needless to say, I plan to read the next book in this series lol.

RED RISING by Pierce Brown

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children. But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity already reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet. Darrow - and Reds like him - are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class. Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity’s overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society’s ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies… even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.

My Thoughts: Y’ALL. Okay, okay so I own the physical copy of this book, but I went the audiobook route and by golly do I HIGHLY recommend it. Not only does the narrator do a phenomenal job with all of the character voices, but he does most of them with a Scottish accent! It was SO enjoyable! Darrow is hands down one of my all time favorite literary characters. I loved that he’s scrappy, clever, cunning, and provides the greatest comedic relief you could ask for. Basically, there’s a hierarchy on Mars and Darrow is born as a Red, but he’s going undercover as a Gold to infiltrate their ranks and take them down from the inside. Part of this process is not only being transformed into a Gold physically, but he also has to take an intelligence test to get into what they call the Institute. The Institute is where teenage Golds go to earn their place amongst their own, however, it’s got kind of like a Hunger Games vibe to it because they’re placed in different houses and let loose in this manufactured arena. The task is to be the last house standing and the leader of that house becomes the Primus - who also ends up getting the best internships afterwards. This book is bloody, violent and brutal, but it’s such a wild ride that I could not stop listening to it. The plot is beautifully crafted and I am obsessed with all of the side characters including Mustang, Sevro, and this big guy named Pax. Honestly, if you’re looking for a new series to get sucked into, I highly recommend this one because this first book had me HOOKED and I cannot wait to get into the next one!

THE NIGHT SWIM by Megan Goldin

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Ever since her true crime podcast became an overnight sensation and set an innocent man free, Rachel Krall has become a household name - and the last hope for people seeking justice. But she’s used to being recognized for her voice, not her face. Which makes it all the more unsettling when she finds a note on her car windshield, addressed to her, begging for help. The new season of Rachel’s podcast has brought her to a small town being torn apart by a devastating rape trial. A local golden boy, a swimmer destined for Olympic greatness, has been accused of raping the beloved granddaughter of the police chief. Under pressure to make Season 3 a success, Rachel throws herself into her investigation - but the mysterious letters keep coming. Someone is following her, and she won’t stop until Rachel finds out what happened to her sister twenty-five years ago. Officially, Jenny Stills tragically drowned, but the letters insist she was murdered - and when Rachel starts asking questions, nobody in town wants to answer. The past and present start to collide as Rachel uncovers startling connections between the two cases - and a revelation that will change the course of the trial and the lives of everyone involved.

My Thoughts: Wow okay so I’ve seen this book all over the place for at least the last year or so, and my most recent Book of the Month buy is the sequel to this book. So I figured I’d finally tackle this mystery thriller and I am so glad I did! Let me start by saying, this book is dark. It centers around two different rape cases with one suspected murder. Therefore, I highly recommend checking trigger/content warnings before diving in (no pun intended) because some of the things that happen in this story are pretty heavy. As for the actual story, I loved that there was a dual mystery element to Rachel Krall’s investigation. Although she’s initially in Neopolis to cover a rape trial, the sister of a girl who was killed 25 years prior in the same town starts leaving her letters asking for help. Rachel is resistant at first, but curiosity gets the best of her as she starts digging into what happened to Jenny Stills all those years ago. The format is really great because it’s a mix of podcast episodes, Rachel’s interviews, Hannah’s letters, etc. So you’re not only trying to piece together what happened to Jenny and if there’s enough evidence to convict the local golden boy in the current rape trial, but you’re also trying to figure out how these two cases are connected. Rachel is the perfect main character for this book and it was impossible not to have full faith in her. The only reason I docked this book .5 stars is because I felt like we didn’t get enough clues throughout the book to figure out whodunnit in the Jenny Stills case. Like it makes sense after it’s revealed, but I was like how else would I have known that given the facts that were provided? Anyhoo. I super enjoyed this mystery thriller and highly recommend if you haven’t given it a try yet!

THE ONE by Kiera Cass (The Selection #3)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: The time has come for one winner to be crowned. When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown - or to Prince Maxon’s heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose - and how hard she’ll have to fight for the future she wants.

My Thoughts: Okay well thank god America finally makes a decision about what she wants. There are a lot of things that happen in this book and although it’s pretty predictable who Maxon will choose, the journey getting there was kind of unexpected. Per usual, America has been pissing off the King with her antics. In my opinion, she does something extremely clever though and not actually out of line with what they were encouraging her to do, but this starts another uproar about whether she’s fit to be in this competition. The southern rebels who were targeting the families of girls who are still in The Selection start to attack people by caste - starting with the highly-ranked and going down from there. So there is unrest in the country, but thanks to a passionate speech by America, people have hope that they can defend themselves. Overall, I really liked how this book ended. That said, I docked it a star for a couple of reasons. One, something happens to her dad and they say it’s because he’s sick, but I do not remember that being a thing up to this point at all. Like I was trying to wrack my brain for any mention of him being ill, but couldn’t come up with anything. The last 10% of the book happens QUICKLY and everything that goes down is very convenient for wrapping up this story in a perfect little bow. So although I don’t hate that everything was tied up nicely, I felt like the lead up to it was a little disjointed. Anyhoo, if you’ve started this series, I’d say it’s worth reading through the third book for sure.

ATOMIC HABITS by James Clear

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving - every day. James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. If you’re having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn’t you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don’t want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you’ll get a proven system that can take you to new heights. Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field. Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits - whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress or achieve any other goal.

My Thoughts: My brother once told me that I probably don’t need to read this book because I’m pretty good with routines, creating habits, etc., but I heard James Clear on a podcast a few months ago and figured his book would still be worth my while. And, I’d say it was! Personally, I think this was a super helpful little guide for creating good habits and breaking bad ones. The author gives so many tangible, realistic examples of how to frame your mindset when creating or breaking habits, realistic anecdotes of people who have achieved their goals, etc. There are also visual guides, worksheets, etc. available online that you can download for free to help you create a plan for habits. The chapters are clear and concise and always summarized at the end, so that you don’t get lost in the sauce. Overall, if you haven’t given this book a try, but have been wanting to make some changes to your lifestyle, I think this would be a very valuable read for you!

THE GOLDEN COUPLE by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Wealthy Washington suburbanites Marissa and Matthew Bishop seem to have it all - until Marissa is unfaithful. Beneath their veneer of perfection is a relationship riven by work and a lack of intimacy. She wants to repair things for the sake of their eight-year-old son and because she loves her husband. Enter Avery Chambers. Avery is a therapist who lost her professional license. Still, it doesn’t stop her from counseling those in crisis, though they have to adhere to her unorthodox methods. And the Bishops are desperate. When they glide through Avery’s door and Marissa reveals her infidelity, all three are set on a collision course. Because the biggest secrets in the room are still hidden, and it’s no longer simply a marriage that’s in danger.

My Thoughts: Wow this book was such a wild ride. Though I own a physical copy, I decided to listen to it on audiobook and the narrators did a superb job. The book is told from both Marissa’s and Avery’s POVs and it’s impossible to know who to trust. It constantly feels like both women are hiding something as they each gain pieces to the bigger puzzle. I couldn’t even begin to try to guess who the antagonist was in this twisted story. With every new bit of information, it seemed like literally everyone was guilty of being sketchy. There were a couple of big plot twists, but the biggest one at the end was the most surprising. I honestly did not see it coming lol. That said, I liked the pacing of this dual-perspective mystery and was definitely sucked in from the start. If you’re looking for a mystery/thriller that keeps you guessing, I definitely recommend giving this book a shot!

That’s all I’ve got for July!

Hoping to continue this reading momentum into August while I savor the last month of summer. I’m on a mystery/thriller and dystopian kick, so we shall see if that theme carries into this next month. We all know I’m a mood reader though, so it’s anyone’s guess lol.

Cheers to the last month of summer!

2023 Book Count: 72

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What’s your favorite mystery/thriller?