Book Review: The Death of Us

 

By Becky Gulc

I really enjoyed Abigail Dean's debut novel, Girl A, so I was really happy to pick up another of her books, this time The Death of Us. This novel essentially involves taking a moving and sensitive look at how a shared traumatic experience can alter the course of a relationship.

Here is the synopsis:

It’s the story everyone wants to hear.

That spring night in South London, when Isabel and Edward’s lives were torn apart.

The night Isabel learned that the worst things wait, just outside the door.

The night Edward learned that he was powerless to stop them.

The night they never talk about.

When their attacker is caught, it’s finally time to tell the story of that night.

Not to the world. Or to the man who did it. But to each other. (Courtesy of Abigail's website.)

Isabel and Edward were a young, happy couple when a frightening intrusion into their home changed everything. Unable to navigate the heavy emotional aftermath together, they eventually drifted apart, letting their marriage fade away. They go on to live separate lives and never discuss that night. Then the perpetrator is finally caught and the former couple are brought back into each other’s lives as the trial looms. Will they finally be able to open up about what they went through?

This isn’t an action-packed thriller; it’s more a character-driven exploration of healing and I couldn't get enough of it. I really loved the way Abigail chose to build the narrative. It sweeps back and forth between timelines so smoothly. Isabel’s chapters are presented almost like a deeply personal diary entry directed at the man who altered their lives, which gives her perspective such an intimate, vulnerable feel. Edward’s side of the story grounds us in the present day as they gently brace themselves for the upcoming trial.

My heart really went out to both characters; they are written with such empathy and feel like genuine people you want to reach out and comfort. While the book certainly touches on emotional subjects and might make you reach for a tissue, it never feels overwhelming or bleak. Instead, it’s an incredibly hopeful story about resilience and the enduring nature of love.

I found this to be an absorbing read that shines a warm light on the quiet strength of the people left behind, rather than dwelling on the crime itself. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to read whatever Abigail Dean writes next!

More by Abigail Dean:
Day One
Girl A

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Spotlight and Giveaway: Not Another Christmas Movie

It's not even Halloween yet and the winter holiday novels are descending upon us! Today we're excited to kick off the early winter holiday season with Not Another Christmas Movie by Ashley Cowan. This is her debut rom-com and it sounds absolutely delightful. Thanks to Alcove Press, we have THREE copies to give away!

Thirtysomething Annie Meyers is having a rough year. Her situationship with the noncommittal Chris fizzled out, and her best friend’s impending engagement is the final crunch of the candy cane. Her solution: to spend the holiday slugging boxed rosé and ignoring the rest of the world.

That is, until she falls asleep and wakes up in her worst nightmare: a made-for-TV Christmas movie version of her quaint hometown. To make matters worse, Chris is now the town’s hunky widower and owner of a Christmas tree farm. But Annie isn’t trapped alone: Her dorky childhood neighbor, Nick, is here too. Only, he’s not quite as dorky as she remembers.

After some mild panic, Annie and Nick realize their escape hinges on playing into classic rom-com tropes. The plan is simple: Annie will woo Chris—the now “perfect boyfriend”—and Nick, his childhood sweetheart, Bailey.

But after holiday hoedowns, ice-skating dates, and cookie-baking montages, Annie begins to wonder if the real magic of Christmas—and love—is much closer to home. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

"[A] clever romp . . . This is sure to leave readers with smiles on their faces."
—Publishers Weekly

“With holiday spirit with a side of spice, Ashley Cowan has crafted a gift of a rom-com. Annie and Nick’s adventure through every holiday movie trope left me laughing, swooning, and cheering for them to just kiss already! The perfect read to cozy up with under the tree, or any time you need a dose of sparkling magic.”
—Holly James, author of The Déjà Glitch

"Delightfully fun, filled with humor and a love story that will put a smile on your face. A perfect holiday rom-com."
—Red Carpet Crash

Credit: William Leschber

Ashley Cowan lives in Simsbury, Connecticut, where she wrangles a circus that includes one husband, three daughters, two rescue cats, and two rescue dogs. A graduate of Roger Williams University, she moved to New York City as a starving artist and then to San Francisco, where she became a moderately hungry artist, acting, writing, directing, and enjoying many burritos before returning to New England.

Ashley is a published playwright, with work featured in the Applause Acting Series: 25 10-Minute Plays for Teens, and her plays have been staged everywhere from San Francisco theaters (and bars moonlighting as theaters) to Texas middle schools and community centers across the tri-state area.

Visit Ashley online:
Website * Instagram * TikTok

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends October 13th at midnight EST.

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Spotlight and Giveaway: Looks Perfect

We're excited to celebrate the publication of Jessica Siskin's debut novel, Looks Perfect! The premise sounds intriguing and we are loving the cover too. Thanks to Over the River PR, we have one copy to share with a lucky reader!

What comes between a fashion icon’s perfect image and her genuine self? The perfect stranger―in a sharp and witty novel about identity, performance, and what it takes to make a true connection.

One million people follow Stella Lerner’s every move. And now the buzzy fashion designer is fulfilling her lifelong dream and taking her indie clothing brand global with the help of the industry’s biggest investor. Sounds perfect. Except offline, the optics aren’t so great.

Her relationship with her boyfriend, Alex, is crumbling just as the pressure to curate her image online only builds. Feeling trapped between the picture-perfect life she’s promised her followers and the messy reality she’s facing, Stella anonymously joins a new dating app. Blindr promises deep, private conversations, free from the burden of anyone’s expectations, especially her own. That’s when Stella connects with a stranger called Pineapple who’s intuitive, honest, and empathetic. Stella may be watched by millions, but this man, who’s never even laid eyes on her, makes her feel seen.

What starts as a diversion becomes a journey of radical transformation. As Stella’s search for authenticity intensifies, every chat with Pineapple takes her further down a path she never could’ve imagined.

 “Looks Perfect is the contemporary novel at its best, exploring the ways in which we perceive ourselves being perceived and the cost we pay for it.” 

—Chloé Caldwell, author of Women

“Jessica Siskin brings an insider’s eye to the pressures of image-making and the unexpected places where genuine connection can still be found.” 

—Ali Rosen, USA Today bestselling author of The Slow Burn

“Smart, observant, and emotionally rich, Looks Perfect feels incredibly of its time.” 

—Esther Chehebar, author of Sisters of Fortune

Jessica Siskin earned her MFA from the New School. She is the founder of Misterkrisp, a popular Instagram-based food art business specializing in custom Rice Krispies Treats and social media content. She is the author of Treat Yourself!, a cookbook featuring her inventive food art and edible creations. Jessica lives in New York City.

Visit Jessica online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends October 11th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: A Date with Death

By Sara Steven

Helena Hart isn’t having the best night. Her date just ditched her, her Halloween costume bombed, and her only sympathetic ear is a dead silent partygoer in a Grim Reaper get-up. But when she falls off a balcony and he catches her with a very real skeletal hand, she realizes he may not be a party guest at all. Before she can process the near-death experience, he vanishes, leaving her to wonder if she hallucinated the whole thing.

Grim isn’t supposed to save souls. He’s supposed to reap them. And while he’s not sure why he spared Helena, he does know that if his superiors find out, he’s as good as dust—which is saying something for a guy who’s mostly bones. But keeping away from Helena is proving harder than expected—especially when she isn’t the least bit afraid of his monstrous form.

Worse, to his horror, Helena makes him feel. And for a reaper, feeling is a fate far more dangerous than death. (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

A Date with Death was so much fun! When I think of the Grim Reaper, I think scary. Unapproachable. Run! But that’s not how Grim is portrayed in this story. He might think he’s scary and unapproachable, but Helena doesn’t see that at all when she meets him for the first time. And over the course of the chapters, the reader begins to see a lot more depth to him, too. It was the quintessential opposites attract, with two completely opposite characters who end up liking each other despite their differences. And boy, are there a lot of differences!

Grim doesn’t live in the same world that Helena lives in. He collects souls for a living. Helena lives on earth and is a librarian. What could they possibly have in common? Helena allows Grim to be himself while also re-discovering his own past and how he came to be the Grim Reaper, and he has no filter, the kind of gruff personality that rubs off on the much more quiet Helena. It was a fun dynamic between the two of them. I also loved the secondary characters who make up Grim’s self-made family, even though Grim would never admit to having any kind of family.

There were some fast-paced moments pertaining to keeping Helena safe that had been a wild crazy experience, and some super steamy moments, too, which was completely unexpected but a welcome surprise. Ultimately, I loved how Grim has been deconstructed to make him more endearing, because why shouldn’t a supposed “monster” find love and romance, too? It was a definite five-star experience!

Thanks to Gallery for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Kelly Creagh:
Nevermore
Strange Unearthly Things
Phantom Heart

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Book Review: Big Little Truths

By Melissa Amster

The last time we saw the women of Big Little Lies—Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie—their children were five years old. If someone wasn’t invited to a birthday party, feelings were hurt. But ten years have passed and the kids are in high school, navigating all of the drama that accompanies teendom (goodbye playdates, hello drugs, sex, and alcohol).

When the high school principal receives a threatening package in the mail, word quickly spreads throughout the community and parents are in an uproar. But Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie have other things to worry about. Celeste’s mother-in-law, Mary Louise, is behaving oddly—is it old-age forgetfulness and bluntness or something more sinister? Madeline is facing perhaps the biggest challenge of her life, Jane is at a dangerous fork in her marriage, Bonnie has realized there’s only so much solace in yoga. And Renata? Renata is living her best life—revenge is sweet.

When a stranger begins lurking around the school asking supposedly innocent questions, this tightly connected group of women must finally face the full repercussions of the big little truths they have and haven’t shared with their kids. Because the stakes are now much higher than not being invited to an ice-skating party—and the ice has never been thinner for any of them. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Ever since I heard there would be a sequel to Big Little Lies (reviewed here), I have been wanting to get my hands on a copy. Big Little Truths is just as scandalous and addictive! It does not follow season two of the TV series and I am glad about that. It takes place ten years later, when all the kids are in high school and the moms are facing down their fifties (at least some of them are). 

This novel focuses on being part of a sandwich generation. The women have different issues to deal with this time, but the aftermath of the events from the first book still haunt them. It was a really good read that felt relatable in some ways. I couldn't get enough of it! There are some heavy parts to the story, so be kind to yourself while reading it. 

Throughout the novel, there were many things that surprised me. I thought I was guessing correctly at something and then I would realize I was completely off base. I loved the script-like dialogue between the teenagers, who are divulging everything at a group counseling session. Being the mother of a teenager (along with two adults), I found I could relate even more to the women in this story. 

The novel goes back and forth in time. It took me a while to remember when everything was happening in the present vs. half a year before. Also, because the seasons in Australia are the opposite of those in the US, I had to think even harder about the timing of everything. Not a huge deal, but something to keep in mind when you read it.

If you want to read this as a standalone, there's enough context from the first book to help everything make sense. However, I highly recommend Big Little Lies and you can avoid spoilers by reading it first. It's also a good way to form a bond with the characters. I felt like I was reuniting with old friends this time around.

Overall, an excellent sequel! Maybe Liane can be persuaded to write one for What Alice Forgot someday, as well.

(Trigger warnings below. May contain spoilers.)

Movie casting suggestions (I only kept one from the previous novel and didn't want to go with the casting from the TV series either):

Celeste: Saffron Burrows

Jane: Carey Mulligan

Madeline: Rose Byrne

Bonnie: Adelaide Clemens

Renata: Portia de Rossi

Melody: Rebecca Hall

Ed: Sam Worthington

Marco: Adam Garcia

Mary-Louise: Frances Fisher

Tom: Ben Barnes

Thanks to Crown Publishing for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Liane Moriarty:

The Husband's Secret

Nine Perfect Strangers

Here One Moment

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TW: Grooming minors. Cancer. Mental breakdowns. Assault. Dementia. Drug and alcohol use. Receiving a threat. Death of spouse/parent. Trauma.

Jessica Rao is everywhere we want to be...plus a book giveaway

We're excited to welcome Jessica Rao to CLC today to talk about her debut novel, Nowhere to Go but Everywhere. If you were around in the 1990s, it will make you feel nostalgic. If you weren't, it will give you a taste of what life was like back then. We had fun chatting with Jessica and hope you will enjoy our interview. Thanks to BookSparks, we have one copy to give away!

Jessica Rao is an award-winning journalist and media professional who has held contributor roles at CNBC and Gannett and overseen communications for Fortune 500 companies. 

In addition to her media career, she is the Vice President of the White Plains Library Foundation and she hosts and produces literary events. She lives outside of New York City with her family. Visit Jessica at her website and on Instagram.

Synopsis:
Helena Vinci might like grunge and Camel Lights, but she's not a fan of frat boys or anything else about Albany college life. When she drops out and takes a job waiting tables near the Capitol, her plan is to save up to see "the real world" out west. But soon she finds herself trapped in a new way, torn between two men - a sexy DJ and a fellow slacker with wanderlust - and a third, a politician who promises financial security, but at a price. When and how will Helena learn that you don't have to go on the road to find yourself?

Nowhere to Go but Everywhere is a piercing coming-of-age novel about the perils and pleasures of learning to chart your own path. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

"With echoes of The Catcher in the Rye and a distinctly retro sensibility... this stunning debut is not to be missed!"
- Jacqueline Friedland, USA Today bestselling author of Breathing Under Water

"Among the most satisfying coming-of-age novels I've read."
- Art Bell, author of What She's Hiding

"Jessica Rao is the real deal. This book captures the tumult and boundlessness of late adolescent rebellion. I tore through this absolutely winning debut."
- Karen Dukess, USA Today bestselling author of The Last Book Party

In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like for you?
It was long and windy -- it took a while to feel that my manuscript was ready and then getting myself organized to send queries another whole challenge.

How is Helena similar to or different from you?
On the surface, we’re pretty similar. We both went to the University at Albany, worked as waitresses, have red hair, wore berets. But our paths diverge on page one. I didn’t drop out, live with two relative-strangers or make the dubious decisions she makes. 

If Nowhere to Go but Here was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
I love this question but I have to admit, I had to defer to my 19-year-old daughter and her friends to answer. 
The best answers I got: 
Sadie Sink as Helena
Florence Pugh as Sonya
Drew Starkey as Henry
Jake Gyllenhaal as Charlie
I suggested Jacob Elordi for Thomas, but they thought he was a little too hot. I thought he’d be good!

Which book made you fall in love with reading?
My favorite books as a kid in no particular order: Charlotte’s Web. The Cricket in Times Square. All the Beverly Clearly books. The Peanuts comic books. In middle and early high school, I loved The Catcher in the Rye, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and A Separate Peace.
 
What is your favorite thing about the 1990s?
I liked that we had more head space, more quiet. We weren’t always in touch, always with a device in our hands.

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 
This is a tough one, but I think Drew Barrymore would do a great job. 

Thanks to Jessica for visiting with us and to BookSparks for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends October 6th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Class Reunion

By Sara Steven

A phone call from jail pulls attorney Lennon Gallagher back into a past she's spent years trying to escape. Complicated doesn't begin to describe the bond between Lennon and the caller, a former law school classmate. Now, Erin stands accused of the very violence Lennon has spent her career fighting against. It's a conflict of interest, but isn't everyone entitled to competent and effective legal defense?

What starts as a plea for help spirals into a murder trial that threatens to incinerate Lennon's professional reputation as well as her upcoming marriage. Guided by her best friend, seasoned lawyer Miranda Quinn, Lennon digs for the truth, only to find a mountain of evidence that points to Erin's guilt. The cost of loyalty is high, and the stakes are even higher as Lennon questions if Erin was ever truly her friend.

But does that make her guilty of murder? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed both books that delved into Lennon Gallagher’s life; first with Class Action (reviewed here), and now with Class Reunion. Lennon has a very complicated relationship with Erin, someone who she had once thought of as a good friend, but there has been too much water under the bridge for Lennon to ever fully trust Erin again. Yet given Lennon’s familial past, not to mention the legal issues Erin faces, Lennon feels it is her duty to do whatever she can to help Erin, even if it might mean putting her own career in harm’s way.

The way Lennon’s story is written is easy to follow and kept me interested and focused on the situation at hand. What should be a straight shot into figuring out how to defend Erin, becomes extremely messy and chaotic. It gets to the point that Lennon really isn’t sure if Erin is innocent or not, particularly when Erin brings in a former classmate of theirs who is very antagonistic and a big threat to Lennon. And then when Lennon gets put on trial, the lines become severely blurred. The moments where Lennon had a choice in whether she wanted to engage more with Erin or not, I kept hoping she would make the right choice and back away, but she kept getting deeper and deeper into the mess.

I first learned about Lennon through Olmstead’s Miranda books, and it was really nice to see Miranda make appearances in Class Reunion, along with her husband, and Lennon’s mother, too. It’s my understanding that Miranda has a lot of legal experience and is a mentor for Lennon, so it made sense for Lennon to go to her for assistance and guidance, even if Lennon chooses not to always take Miranda’s advice. Maybe things would have gone differently if she had. But we might not have had as much suspense and intrigue leading up to whether Erin truly is innocent or not, and whether Lennon can climb herself out of the drama and get back to what sustains her the most: helping those who can’t help themselves.

I felt like Class Reunion was a great follow-up to Class Action, a worthy five-star experience!   

Thanks to Gail Ward Olmsted for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Gail Ward Olmsted:
Miranda Writes
Driving on the Left
Landscape of a Marriage

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Reviews at Amazon: July - September 2026

We're posting some reviews at our Amazon (or Goodreads) accounts, as either they've been sitting in our queue for a while and deserve their time in the sun, fall under our featuring policy, or they're new reads that we couldn't wait to post at the blog. You can check them out at the links below. Hope we can help you find your next favorite book!

Sara:
The Barbie Killer by Julia McDermott
Painting Over Cracks by Lee Bukowski
Gutted by Maida Korte
The Model Patient by Lucy Ashe
The Death Row Club by V.A. Vazquez

Melissa:
Love You More by Emily Giffin
Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel
This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page
Isola by Allegra Goodman
Well Versed by Jen DeLuca
Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood
Bump, Set, Sparks by Jennifer Moffatt
Summer Husband by Amy Lorowitz
Twenty Something Else by Stephanie Mack

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We're over the moon for Kate Robb...plus a book giveaway

Credit: Christina Dallimore

We're excited to have Kate Robb visiting today to talk about her upcoming rom-com, Solar Eclipse of the Heart, which will be available next week. The premise sounds fascinating and we enjoyed learning more about this novel, as well as other fun facts about Kate. Thanks to Random House, we have one copy to give away!

Kate Robb is the author of This Spells Love, Prime Time Romance, and Kitty St. Clair’s Last Dance. She dated a lot of duds in her twenties (amongst a few gems) all providing excellent fodder to write weird and wild romantic comedies. She lives just outside of Toronto, Canada, where she spends her free time pretending she’s not a hockey mom while whispering “hustle” under her breath from the bleachers, a Pinot Grigio concealed in her YETI mug. She hates owls, the word “whilst,” and wearing shorts and aspires to one day be able to wear four-inch heels again. Visit Kate at her website and on Instagram.

Synopsis:

Annalise Harris lives by facts and figures. Raised by her uncle after her mother’s death, she’s always relied on logic to avoid the unexpected. So when her uncle passes away, Annalise is left reeling.

Luckily, she has an escape plan: a PhD program abroad to leave her grief behind. Unluckily, Mackenzie Smith, her new roommate, is not the woman she was expecting but a leather jacket–wearing, wannabe rock star, extremely attractive man. At least they’ll only be sharing space for a few months. Then she’ll be gone.

Except Mackenzie is more than he appears—and so is his jacket. When Annalise slips it on one afternoon, she’s struck by inexplicable visions that defy every law of logic. As Annalise scrambles to explain the impossible, she and Mackenzie grow closer.

There’s no rational reason a leather jacket should unlock visions—or for Annalise to fall in love just as she’s preparing to leave. But for the first time since losing her uncle, she feels something she thought was gone for good: happiness.

But can she trust it? And can she follow her heart—even if it means letting go of sense? (Courtesy of Amazon.)

“As always, Kate Robb delivers a gorgeously written, wonderfully romantic, and deeply heartfelt exploration of two characters finding themselves and fighting for what they want and deserve from life.”

—Lily Chu, author of The Stand-In

“Solar Eclipse of the Heart is fun, lighthearted, and a reminder of the magic that can happen when we take a chance and step out of our comfort zone. This is a must-read for anyone who loves a sweet romance with a little bit of heat.”

—Nisha J. Tuli, New York Times bestselling author of Not Safe for Work

“Robb puts a gentle speculative spin on this cute . . . forced proximity romance. . . . Their dynamic shifts into something straight out of one of the Hallmark Christmas movies they bond over watching together. . . . Add in a backdrop of holiday cheer, and readers are sure to find this endearing.”

—Publishers Weekly

What is a favorite compliment you've received on your writing?
I think the compliment I love the most is when people tell me they read one of my books in a single night because I know that feeling of being so into a book that I don’t want to put it down, and for someone to feel that way about mine is such an honour. However, the most memorable email I ever got about one of my books was when THIS SPELLS LOVE first came out, a woman wrote me in the middle of the night telling me that her new baby was in the NICU and she had to wake up every few hours to pump, and that listening to my book on audiobook brought her joy in the middle of the night. I am a mom as well and I know how rough those nights can be and to know my stories helped someone get through those hard nights makes me so happy. I still think about them often. 
 
How is Annalise similar to or different from you?
Annalise is probably the character I’ve written that is the furthest from my own personality (I am much more of a Mackenzie.) I make wishes on stars and turkey bones and hold my breath when I pass a cemetery (unlike my very practical MC who has scientific reasons why I shouldn't care about those things.) Funny enough, the most whimsical thing about her (her deep love of Christmas Hallmark movies) is not something I’m into either. I actually love watching dark crime/mystery shows in December.
 
If Solar Eclipse of the Heart was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
Anya Taylor Joy has the perfect personality (and face for bangs) to play Annalise. For Mackenzie, I could see Glenn Powell playing him perfectly (he’s got the golden retriever act down.)
 
Which book made you fall in love with reading?
I was in love with reading as a kid. I could take down an entire set of Baby-Sitters Club books in a week. My first “romance” was a  YA fantasy book called Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith (I still love it to this day.) Sophie Kinsella, specifically The Undomestic Goddess, made me fall in love with rom-coms. 
 
If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 
Comedian Kathryn Ryan. She is funny and a bit of an asshole (in the best way) and I think she could relate to my life. She inspired Kirsten (Gemma’s older sister in THIS SPELLS LOVE), who is the character who is probably the most like me. 
 
If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
I would take you on a book tour! We could head downtown Toronto’s Queen St. and see Annalise & Mackenzie's apartment. Maybe grab some lunch at La Tambour (where they filmed Heated Rivalry.) Then we could drive to St. Jacob for the Christmas Market (another scene from Solar Eclipse.) Then maybe up to Muskoka/Baysville where we could see the lakeside setting of Hannah Bonam-Young’s People Watching/ People Pleasing. 

Thanks to Kate for chatting with us and to Random House for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends October 5th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: I Think We Should Kill Other People

By Jami Denison

Artificial Intelligence has been credited and blamed for many things: Revolutionizing medicine. Easing business communications. Hallucinating events. Destroying new author’s careers. The whole Skynet thing. Would you trust it to find your true love?

L.M. Chilton seems to have his fingers on the pulse of the zeitgeist in his writing, and his third book, I Think We Should Kill Other People, is no exception. Hazel and Marc met as part of a reality show that used AI to find a soulmate. But Hazel dumped Marc at the altar, and now she’s stranded with his obnoxious rich family at a small, deserted, snowed-in airport in Norway. When the show’s producer is murdered in the bathroom after threatening to use his footage to expose the family, Hazel realizes she’s locked in with a murderer. Can the AI help Hazel unmask the killer, or will she become the next victim?

I Think We Should Kill Other People is written in first-person, present tense, and goes back and forth between the fraught airport scenes and Hazel and Marc’s courtship. A bottle hostess with a convict father, Hazel seems an unlikely match for Marc, and their dates are a little awkward. Even worse, a person in a red coat seems to be stalking and threatening Hazel when she’s with Marc. 

Chilton does a great job describing the eerie, cold, deserted Norwegian airport, and I will never look at a baggage claim conveyer belt the same way again. The book is fast-paced and funny, delivering the goods that readers expect from sarcastic thrillers about serial murders. He sneaks in commentary about rich people getting away with everything while taking over the world, which is always appreciated. He holds a mirror to AI. There’s a fun twist at the end. However, I was disappointed by the reveal of the killer. While thematically the motive made sense, the degrees of separation made it emotionally unfulfilling. 

Since dating apps seem to have destroyed romance in the real world (more choices are not always better), and younger generations are uncoupled as never before, maybe AI is the answer. It can give Gen Z their soulmates while it steals our jobs, our homes, and our hopes for the future. In the meantime, we have authors like Chilton to keep us entertained. 

Thanks to Gallery for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by L.M. Chilton:
Don't Swipe Right
Everyone in the Group Chat Dies

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Book Review: Something About Julia

By Melissa Amster

One murder. Three women. And the therapist who knows all their secrets.

Julia Teller’s perfect life shatters the day she finds her husband stabbed to death in their hilltop San Diego home. Blair Banks, a high-powered pharma exec and Julia’s neighbor, may know more than she lets on when detectives ask her what she saw. Sixteen-year-old Isabel Hartley remembers Julia acting strangely that morning when she ran into her at the library, but she doesn’t believe that her neighborhood friend could be so violent. Inconsistent stories leave detectives wondering if the three women are conspiring to hide the truth—especially when they learn that they share more than just an elite zip code. They also share a therapist.

Dr. Kate Cooper finds herself torn between acting in her patients’ interests and seeking justice for a brutal crime. Julia’s marital problems always surface during therapy sessions; obsessive Blair might be overly invested in her neighbor’s life; and lonely Isabel clings to anyone who shows her affection. Intimate knowledge of each woman’s life positions Dr. Cooper to help detectives unravel the crime, but pulling the thread puts her on a dark path to a truth she may not want to find. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I've enjoyed all the rom-coms I've read from Holly James and was interested in checking out her first thriller, Something About Julia. I'm pleased to share that Holly is as skilled at thriller writing as she is at rom-com writing!

This story kept me on my toes and had me turning the pages quickly. There were surprises around every corner. I was only able to guess at one aspect but nothing else was what it seemed. I liked how the story unfolded and was told from different perspectives. Something About Julia was so gripping and suspenseful! It was also easy to visualize everything, thanks to the attention to detail throughout. I don't want to say too much more to avoid spoiling the story. 

I hope Holly will write more thrillers in the future as she definitely has a knack for them. Check this one out on Kindle Unlimited!

(Trigger warnings below, aside from the obvious. May contain spoilers.)

Movie casting suggestions:

Julia: Maika Monroe

Dr. Kate Cooper: Lucy Hale

Detective Mercer: Alan Ritchson

Detective Ramirez: Lorenza Izzo

Chris (Kate's husband): Patrick Ball

Jacob: Colin Woodell

Blair: Elizabeth Gillies

Isabel: Juliet Donenfeld

More by Holly James:

The Alias Agenda

Nothing But the Truth

In Between Forever

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TW: Sexual assault, suicidal ideation, bullying, death of parents, loss of money, toxic relationship.

Tara Badstubner is making herself at home with us...plus a book giveaway

We're pleased to introduce Tara Badstubner, whose debut, Every Room Remembers, will be available from Sibylline Press starting tomorrow. It's giving similar vibes to the eighties film Always. And a ghost story is perfect for this time of year. Thanks to Books Forward, we have one copy to give away!

Tara Badstubner lives in Pennsylvania and is busy creating her next novel surrounded by her husband, children, grandbabies, and several silly dogs. A former Artist-In-Residence for Bookgardan, Tara can be found at her website and on Instagram.

Synopsis:

After losing her husband Wyatt to a sudden accident, interior designer SJ Monroe believes she is alone with her crushing grief. But nothing is further from the truth. Wyatt, a ghost trapped in a liminal state, must watch in silence, unable to help, as the woman he loves rattles around their unfinished farmhouse in Sleepy Hollow, New York. He mourns all that remained unresolved in their marriage – the children they never had, the depression that stalked him, and the fractures in their relationship.

Over the following months, SJ survives, aided by the company of Wyatt’s dog, Hawk, and nightly drives to Wendy’s for her habitual fry and chocolate shake. She marshals the courage to take a restoration job for the historic Osprey House in her hometown of Beaufort, South Carolina. A vigilant Wyatt follows as she reconnects with family and finds new friends. Signs from the natural world urge her forward. But not everyone wishes her well. 

While trouble looms, an ever-watchful Wyatt resolves to find a way to speak to SJ from beyond the grave – to tell her to abandon the grief and guilt consuming her, and to claim her happiness. Will she hear him? (Courtesy of Amazon.)

“Badstubner has created the most beautiful space: a novel we can sink into, that we don’t want to leave. This luminous debut is masterfully built and beautifully detailed, echoing with the fullness of life—the dark moments as well as the glorious light.”
—Stacey Swann, author of Olympus, Texas

“In prose as sure and subtle as a steadying hand on one’s shoulder, Badstubner’s characters find a way to walk into their unimagined futures, where love and memory, the author reminds us, have the power to outlast us all.”
—Kate Moses, author of Cakewalk: A Memoir

In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like for you?
The road to publishing this book required a high degree of tenacity, patience and blind optimism.

How is SJ similar to or different from you?
SJ’s affinity for interior design is one point of similarity. I’ve always been intrigued by architecture and by what makes a home welcoming and beautiful. My own home has been a refuge for me many times over.

If Every Room Remembers was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
I think Emily Blunt or Carey Mulligan would be interesting picks for the protagonist, SJ. As Wyatt, SJ’s husband, now a ghost, Michael Fassbender or Andrew Garfield would do a great job of capturing his reflective regret.

Which book made you fall in love with reading?
The very first book that completely captivated me as a child was Eloise. I have vivid memories of sitting on my bedroom floor with the book open in my lap, studying those detailed black-and-pink illustrations, especially the one of her bedroom. To me, Eloise was living the high life: a home at the Plaza, an elevator ready to take her anywhere and a pet turtle!

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 
First, I’d be amazed that anyone was interested, but I suppose I’d go with Rachel Weisz. She has a fabulous husky voice.

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
I would take you to a beautiful gem of a garden called Chanticleer. We’d ramble along the paths and take our sweet time, and then I’d take you to a nearby French café for lunch.

Thanks to Tara for chatting with us and to Books Forward for sharing her book with our readers!

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends September 29th at midnight EST.

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Book Review: Sugar Sand Land

By Sara Steven

Twenty-eight-year-old beauty Emerson Blue is the second most followed celebrity on social media. A self-proclaimed “living piece of art” who rose to fame as a reality star and then parlayed her celebrity into a megabucks career as an influencer, she seems to have everything.

Forty-eight-year-old Grammy winner Renn Walker is a fallen country music star. Years ago, he was canceled following allegations of sexual misconduct, and he has lived in seclusion ever since. Once a beloved figure, he seems to have lost it all.

When Emerson and Renn meet, sparks fly. Against all odds, a star obsessed with popularity and a recluse shunned by the world fall in love. Everyone in the public and media has an opinion and thinks they know Emerson and Renn. But in a world dominated by social media—a world that blurs the lines between what’s public and private, what’s real and what’s illusion—do we ever really know anyone? (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

Sugar Sand Land reminded me a little of the TV show Nashville, although maybe I’ve had Hayden Panettiere on my mind as of late, and Emerson Blue reminded me of Hayden. She is a bright light who draws people to her in all the best of ways, yet is an enigma and not easily understood. No one knows where Emerson comes from, or her past. The only thing they know is how much of a force she is in the social media realm.

Renn Walker has been living in seclusion for years after a public fallout he’d had over allegations of sexual misconduct, and he has no clue how to use social media, or who Emerson is. I think that was a big factor in the attraction Emerson has for Renn, because he’s not interested in her based on her platform, or what she can offer him. He genuinely falls for her based on who she is as a person, a rarity for Emerson. But socially, it doesn’t look great. Not for either of them. The rumors about Renn have far surpassed him, and no one trusts that their budding relationship will survive. 

There are also secrets that Emerson holds close, her hidden past buried so deep, not even the sleuthiest of the sleuths could ever figure it out. But events out of Renn’s control crop up, and he won’t let Emerson go, not without a fight. And not without discovering the real truth behind Emerson’s origins. I thought it was interesting to see how far both of them will go to do what they feel they need to do, in order to protect, and preserve, who they are as individuals and also as a couple. 

Sugar Sand Land was an interesting take on what goes on behind the scenes of what we see in our social media lives. How much of it is real, and how much of it is generated for the public, showcasing our best selves and graying out the other areas that we don’t want anyone to find out about. I’m not a big presence on social media and I’m not super into it myself, but I watch plenty of reality tv to really identify with what Emerson and Renn are dealing with, most likely finding themselves in similar situations that I’ve seen on tv but have no real idea of what’s beneath that surface. I was on the hook and invested in their story from page one, right up until the very end! 

Thanks to BookSparks for the book in exchange for an honest review. 

More by Patricia Leavy:
Spark
Hollyland
Cowboy Eyes

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Spotlight: Well Versed

Today we are celebrating the publication of Jen DeLuca's latest Renaissance Faire rom-com, Well Versed! This is the fifth novel in the Well Met series, but can be read as a standalone. (It contains spoilers for the first four books though, and you definitely should read all of them anyway!) Melissa enjoyed reuniting with all the characters and getting to know Caitlin better this time around. Check out her review on Goodreads and Storygraph. Whether or not you've been to a Ren Faire before, this novel (and series) will definitely put you in the mood to visit!

Caitlin Parker was eighteen when she fell out of love with the magic of the Willow Creek Renaissance Faire—the site of her first real heartbreak. But now, twenty-four and unemployed, she finds herself in her childhood bedroom and her childhood lady-in-waiting costume, assisting a rotating cast of substitute queens for the season. The very last person she wants to see is Alexander Wright—the sword-fighting, Shakespeare-spouting young man who won and broke her teenage heart. Yet there he is, older, annoyingly hotter, and back on stage at her Faire.

When Alex broke things off with Caitlin the first time, he thought he was just ending a summer fling. He didn't realize how much he’d fallen for her until he let her go, and he certainly didn't know he’d tarnished her memories of her cherished Faire and worse, shattered her view on love and relationships. His need to right that wrong this summer brings them together again and again, and this time, it won’t be so easy to let go of this summer fling.

But as summer winds down, real life is catching up to both of them. Caitlin’s always thought that being an adult with adult responsibilities means leaving whimsy behind. Alex, with a life full of stage combat, songs, and sonnets, doesn’t know how to live any other way. Can they go after their dreams and find a future together where they can still say “huzzah”? (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

“An absolute delight that will have you rooting for second chances and wishing it was Ren-Faire season!”
—Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Jen Deluca writes with exceptional warmth.”
—USA Today bestselling author Rosie Danan

"Featuring an endearing small-town setting, an elaborate Ren Faire backdrop, second-chance and new adult storylines, and a vibrant cast of characters from previous books in the beloved “Well Met” series, this charming novel will delight fans and new readers alike."
—Library Journal

Credit: Morgan H. Lee (2023)

Jen DeLuca is the USA Today bestselling author of the Well Met series, inspired by her time volunteering as a pub wench with her local Renaissance Faire, as well as the Boneyard Key series, set in a haunted Florida tourist town. 

Jen loves Publix chicken tender subs, cold brew coffee, and the Oxford comma. She lives in the Arizona desert with her husband, their rescue dog, and almost too many cats. (Bio courtesy of Jen's website.)

Visit Jen online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram

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Book Review: Thank You for Remembering

By Jami Denison

Soap operas raised me, so I’ve always had a pull toward amnesia plots. They can be a catalyst for any genre: thriller, historical fiction, mystery, comedy, romance. When you can’t remember your past, how can you plan your future? 

The heroine of romance-author-and-Jane-Austen-devotee Emily Harding’s new book, Thank You For Remembering, isn’t suffering from complete amnesia. When Marnie Stephens wakes up in a hospital, she’s only lost the past year. But what a year it was. In it, she left her life in Los Angeles to follow her boyfriend to Boston, only to get dumped. Even worse, she cut eight inches off her blond hair and now has bangs! With a box of mementos and her cute but grumpy neighbor as her guide, Marnie tries to relearn her new neighborhood in order to jog her memory. Will it lead her back to her old boyfriend… or to a new love?

Thank You For Remembering is a quick, light read that delivers its promises. Plucky Marnie, in her first-person narration, never gets too glum about her situation. When she is sad, she bounces back quickly. Romantic comedy is a genre in which protagonists get what they need (not always what they want), happily-ever-after is implied, and gentle jokes and funny situations abound. There are several chapters exploring Boston, the Red Sox, bars full of drinkers who sing "Sweet Caroline" and demand that people kiss. The twist at the end is easily predicted. No heavy lifting by the reader is required.

And yet, underneath this happy gloss are questions that go unprobed. Marnie was raised by a grandmother who told her to trust fate, even though “fate” killed her parents in a car crash and later stole her grandmother with dementia. Does “what was meant to be will be” mean avoiding responsibility for your choices? What does it feel like to give up your entire life to move across the country for a relationship that doesn’t work? These aren’t questions that Marnie engages in, and perhaps they’re not necessary in a romantic comedy. But I was angry on Marnie’s behalf, and there was no place in the book to deal with that anger. 

Thank You For Remembering is really cute, and readers who love Boston will be especially enthralled. Thriller fans like me might want to stick to genres in which women come out of amnesia with both guns blazing.  

Thanks to Gallery for the book in exchange for an honest review.

More by Emily Harding:

How Freaking Romantic

Emma of 83rd Street (with Audrey Bellezza)

Elizabeth of East Hampton (with Audrey Bellezza)

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Spotlight: Tabitha, Stay Up

 

After a shattering disappointment, Tabitha must find new ways to get up—and stay up. 

In this sequel to Tabitha, Get Up, she faces a determined antagonist and a possible new love, or the return of what appeared to be lost love. She must save the world’s best bar, contend with diabolical twins and a persistent mystical vision, survive a former cowboy campground, refuse to count her blessings, and at last walk down the aisle again, although not in the way she anticipated. 

Tabitha continues her forays into philosophy—how to survive disaster, defy humiliation, and build a life where optimism may be renewed, whenever it needs to be renewed, which is by the minute.

**Can be read as a standalone**

Praise for Tabitha, Get Up:

"Riding herd, Upton wrangles a novel that writes itself and rights itself."

—Michael Martone, author of Plain Air: Sketches from Winesburg, Indiana

"Smart, funny...and a total joy!"

—Iris Smyles, author of Droll Tales

"It's Lee Upton's best, funniest, and most ingenious work of fiction yet."

—Brock Clarke, author of Who Are You, Calvin Bledsoe? 

Lee Upton is a multi-genre author who was named a semi-finalist for the 2026 Thurber Prize in American Humor Writing for her comic novel Tabitha, Get Up. A sequel, Tabitha, Stay Up, is forthcoming in September 2026. She is also the author of the literary mystery Wrongful (2025) and the dystopian thriller, The Withers, which published in June 2026. Her poetry has appeared in the New Yorker, Poetry, Agni, and in many other magazines as well as three editions of Best American Poetry. A volume of her new and selected poems is forthcoming in 2027 from Saturnalia Books. www.leeupton.com.

Visit Lee at her website and on Instagram.

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