Jay
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This definitely was a slow burn for sure. Sometimes with some of the details given, I was wondering why it was in the book at all. I enjoyed Tasha and her relationship with her son and with Morris. She definitely had more dimension than Madison.
I kind of slogged through the detectives POV but of course everything comes together in the end.
While I was reading, I was set on giving it a 3 or 3.5 stars BUT those last 50 pages reaaaaalllly made this whole book for me. I think this was my face about 5 different times within the last 50 pages >
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This is my second Simone St James book and I have to admit, she does keep me reading. I feel like this book was fast paced from the very beginning and it's probably why I ended up mostly enjoying it.
There were a lot of small repetitions in here such as how hot it is and the sound that her flip flops make but it's easy to over look.
The paranormal scenes are always chilling and give you a thrill.
There's a review that said it well and it mentioned that this book doesn't quite scratch the itch and that's what it felt like for me.
Overall entertaining.
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
I've heard really great things about this book for years. I was excited to finally crack it open and see what everyone was talking about. It wasn't a bad thriller at all.
I just felt it to be slower paced, repetitive and because of that, a little bit predictable.
I did love the relationship that Grace and Millie had.
The ending picked up just a bit and the very last chapter had my heart pounding.
Overall, I wasn't super shocked or surprised and I could do with it being a little faster, but it was still entertaining enough for me to enjoy.
4.5 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
It was a great exploration of grief and postpartum depression. The characters were well thought out and raw with a great deal of sympathy for what they were going through. You can tell this was carefully written.
I love the writing style. Comedic horror is to the likes of Grady Hendrix (in my opinion). They say this a mix of Rosemarys Babe and Salems Lot, but it also reminded me a lot of Lock Every Door by Riley Sager. If you enjoyed that one and are looking for a more in depth horror version, I'd highly recommend Nestlings!
I brought it down a half star only because of how dense the information was. For an under 300 page book, we still could've done without interludes and would still be jam packed with things going on.
Regardless, this was a great read.
4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love me a good rich people drama and this surely delivered! These mamas are ruthless, brutal and scandalous and I love unveiling their dirty dark secrets!
You are led many different directions on who the murderer is but I certainly didn't think it would get that crazy or that the women would get that delulu!
Fun time! 4 stars!
3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read and loved The Perfect Child even though it ended ambiguously. I was excited to see what happened after. This takes place 12/13 years after the events in The Perfect Child and Janie is all grown up and back out in the world.
I think what I needed was for this to be longer! I was getting invested and then BOOM. It ended. I did have to remind myself it was a short story but I was already so invested from the first book.
There are some things that annoyed me within the book. Mostly with Cole's reaction to everything and how he was handling things I felt were much more ... out of depth for a 12 year old?
Overall, it left me wanting more. Still happy to get some conclusions so 3 stars it is.
4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was a wild ride! Following the three females closest to Adien Thomas, a serial killer. His daughter, his lover, and his victim.
This was a fight for survival that definitely had me anxious at times! The writing was beautiful, almost in the way you see more in fantasy than in thrillers. Rachel's tips for surviving “outside the shed” being tucked away into my memory. This book had me anxious, and also feeling gaslit and manipulated.
This was definitely slower paced for my liking but the short chapters kept me reaching for more. There are somethings the women in this book did that made me roll my eyes a bit. Rachel I gave more grace to than Emily.
The ending tied up nicely and I throughly enjoyed! Can't believe this is this authors debut!
4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This had a great start! Kept me super engaged. I love a haunted house trope and the gothic atmosphere really helped make it feel creepy.
You're following Kit in the present (set in the 80s) and Lenora's typewriting telling you what happened back in 1929 when the family murders happened. I don't feel like this needed to be set in the 80s, there was nothing that made you think they were back in that time so I forgot that tidbit often.
I also feel like this could've been 50 pages shorter and about 5 LESS twists. I LOVE a good twist but he kept going... and kept going... and kept going.. and I just felt like the more twists that came up, made everything feel too convenient and unbelievable. The toooo many twists and the fact it should've been a little shorter is what knocked it down a star.
Regardless, the atmosphere and story were intriguing so I very much enjoyed!
5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heart pounding and anxiety inducing until the very end. This started off with a bang and it did not stop. Flipping through pages of fear, survival and praying that these two girls make it out alive.
As someone who deals with anxiety myself, I very much related with Olivia's character. I was amazed by their perseverance through some of the most terrifying and traumatizing times.
My heart raced until I closed the book as if I was the one needing to get out alive.
Truly a fast paced thriller and absolutely recommend!!
4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
I kept hearing that if you read a lot of thrillers, you wouldn't be shocked by this one. I must not read THAT many thrillers because I did NOT see that twist coming!
Enjoyed this super fast paced, popcorn thriller and in the direction it went.
Looking forward to reading the next!
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was gifted this book from my friend Kelly and I couldn't be more thankful! I loved this authors writing and it hooked me in from the very beginning. The pictures were very creepy especially in the start of the book when it wasn't Teddy's best work. I was reading it at like 1am and scared myself just from the pictures lmao.
I was so invested in the mystery that was going on. I did wish it went in a slightly different direction in the end. The ending did kind of feel like it went off the rails a bit which is why I knocked off a star. But still very much enjoyed.
3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I buddy read this with my friend Danielle. It was both on our physical TBR so we decided we'd just knock it out. I heard great things about this book but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype for me.
NONE of the characters were likable. The relationship between Low and Freya made me uncomfortable. Freya was just awful I don't know why people were friends with her and honestly a part of this book that I thought was going to be a major plot point was merely a by pas. I just wasn't a fan of the direction this went in. Very toxic friends but not in a fun silly way
3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Unfortunately, I was accidentally spoiled for a major twist in this book. It was on my mind the entire time while everything was happening so it explained a lot of what was going on while I was reading. The experience was okay. Honestly, it was a lot of reminiscing and flashbacks that kind of hard me bored some of the time. I feel like even if I was spoiled, I'd they didn't have so many flashbacks and stayed focused on the present, I would've enjoyed it more.
I just didn't really understand the ending and I had some questions. It was pretty convoluted. Despite all that, I didn't have the worst time. It was alright and I'm giving it a middle of the road rating.
5 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was on the fence between a 4.5 and a 5 star but since I stopped reading, I can't stop thinking about everything that's happened!
What a whirlwind. From beginning to end I was pushed from one direction to another, not knowing what to think or who to believe or what the hell was going on.
Honestly from reading this... I'm gullible as hell lmao. I truly enjoyed Patricia as a main character. I enjoyed how deeply she cared and her determination to keep people especially children safe. I loved the friendship between the women in the book club and I loved how you could see the ups and downs in the friendship. The husbands.. SUCKED. Especially Carter. But I am so happy how things wrapped up in the end.
This caught me by surprise. Definitely wasn't expecting this to be a 5 star but I'm so glad it was. AND my first Grady Hendrix!! Can't wait to read more by him!