Look, it's a sheep in wolf's clothing: THE LAST WORD.

The Last Word by Taylor Adams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Emma Carpenter and her dog, Laika, are living alone in a beach house on the Washington coast--hiding from the past. Emma spends her days walking the beach and devouring books on her Kindle. When she reads a terrible horror novel by H.G. Kane, she leaves a one-star review that causes the author to respond, dragging Emma into a rude online argument. Then weird incidents happen at her house. Is it just a coincidence, or is Emma in real danger?

I pick up each Taylor Adams book with a bit of trepidation as his books can genuinely freak me out and also stress me out! This one was no different. There's one setting--a perfectly done isolated beach house. Emma has but one neighbor, an older drunk named Deek. With so few characters, we easily become attached to her and, of course, her dog, Laika. Laika (aka "the space dog") was certainly the star of the show (and the cause of undue stress as I worried frantically if she would survive).

THE LAST WORD goes by at a frantic pace. It's terrifying and increasingly gruesome and bloody. It did indeed creep me out! My main issue was that I predicted a lot of this plot. Still, it did not diminish much of my enjoyment of this crazy, wild ride.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, William Morrow, in return for an unbiased review. Look for it on 4/25/2023!

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She's got that look that kills, that woman, she's really tough: WITH MY LITTLE EYE.

With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Actress Meribel Mills receives an escalating set of letters from a stalker she deems "Marker Man" thanks to his scented marker covered notes whose drawings depict her chopped up or in danger. Even worse, they come directly to her home in LA and seem to indicate he's watching her every move. So Meribel and her tween daughter pack up and move across the country to Atlanta. But before she knows it, Marker Man is back at it, with intimate knowledge of her movements in her new city. Meribel feels watched--but by whom?

Whew... this was a slow one at first! I usually love Jackson's thrillers, but EYE didn't have the usual zing. This felt like a version of YOU, but from the perspective of the stalked (mostly). The beginning is a lot of description and repetitive lead up with not a lot of excitement. The best part of the book was Honor, Meribel's adopted almost thirteen-year-old daughter. Autistic and awesome, Honor carries the book with her literal wit and humor. Meribel is a great mom, too, even if she makes some questionable decisions in other parts of her life. There's an ex-boyfriend, an ex-husband, and a new neighbor who all play roles.

EYE picks up as it goes along and gets exciting as it nears the end. There's a very dark twist that I quite enjoyed, as well. A lot goes on, for sure, even if at times it feels like a typical stalker novel. Where it rises above is the surprises and the lovely relationship between Honor and Meribel. The messages about exactly what the boundaries of stalking entail also make you think--is it stalking to look at someone's Instagram without them knowing? Looking up an ex online? How much does Meribel "deserve" her stalker by being a famous actress? When does someone cross the line?

Overall, I enjoyed this one and would recommend it, even it was not quite as thrilling as I'd hoped. 3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from William Morrow and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.



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There's nothing I won't do to see you shine: JUST AS YOU ARE.

Just as You Are by Camille Kellogg
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Liz and her three roommates are devastated when the queer magazine where they work, The Nether Fields, is about to be shut down. But the magazine is saved at the last hour by two wealthy lesbians, Bailey and Daria. Liz and snobby Daria get off on the wrong foot immediately, with Daria mocking the listicles Liz writes. She can't help but rage at Daria as the woman eliminates kitchen supplies and lacks all faith in the magazine's future. Still, the more Daria and Liz are thrown together, she also sees a softer side to her as well.

This is an excellent romance--a fast read filled with hilarious queer inside jokes. It covers serious topics like gender expression and presentation. I loved having a chance to read a queer HEA with older characters (they have jobs! rent! romantic histories!). Liz and many of the characters work at a magazine devoted to queer topics, which has had a serious impact on society. JUST AS YOU ARE highlights the importance of gay media and queer culture as a whole. I love reading books like this that represent my demographic and contain jokes and topics relevant to my life. Even though there is so much more queer lit out there now, it is still really nice to find books filled with LGBTQIA+ characters living their lives.

JUST AS YOU ARE is billed as a Pride and Prejudice-based enemies to lovers story, and it nails all of that on the head. Liz and Daria hate one another from the start. That does not keep Daria from being a butch dream, however, as Liz struggles with her own gender presentation. There's plenty of angst along the way to the "lovers" part, but it's certainly understandable in the lesbian context. Liz's found family is wonderful too. Kellogg nails covering serious topics but also giving us a witty, sexy, romantic, and fun tale. Overall, this is an incredibly enjoyable read. Can't wait to read what Kellogg comes up with next! 4.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Random House and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for JUST AS YOU ARE on 04/25/2023!

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And all I know is I'm feeling something I've never felt: PIECES OF ME.

Pieces of Me by Kate McLaughlin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dylan grew up with fairly wealthy, albeit divorced, parents and is close to her twin brother. She loves art, and, on the surface, her life seems great. But she's struggled throughout the years--with ADHD and drinking binges. Lately, she's "losing time," often waking somewhere with no memory of where she is or what she's been doing. When she realizes she's spent three days with a boy named Connor without any memory of it, Dylan knows she has to seek help. She's eventually diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID), which starts to help explain why Dylan feels as if there are voices and people living inside of her. But the diagnosis is scary and sometimes Dylan isn't sure she can keep going.

I love Kate McLaughlin's books. This one wasn't quite as emotional as some for me--it's beautifully written, of course, as usual, and I definitely felt for Dylan, but it took me quite some time to get sucked into the story, when normally a McLaughlin book is something I read in practically one setting. PIECES has almost a clinical feeling to it; it covers DID so well that it often feels as if we are reading half fiction, half medical tome, especially as Dylan struggles to figure out what is "wrong" with her (I refuse to classify any mental health disorder as something wrong with a person).

However, the story picks up a lot when she is diagnosed. There's still a ton of explanation of DID, but once we get to meet the other people (alters) who make up Dylan's system, the story becomes more meaningful. DID is caused by trauma when the host is young and they splinter into their alters to protect themselves from what happened. Watching Dylan struggle to realize that something terrible happened to her as a child and then show tremendous strength to learn about DID and delve into that incident is pretty amazing. She's a very strong character and McLaughlin also does an excellent job of giving Dylan's many alters their own personalities as well, as we sometimes get their POV as well.

If this all sounds a little weird, it's really not. The book is very well-done and presented quite well. Dylan struggles to have a relationship with Connor, who turns out to be a remarkably nice person. She has a mom who wants what is best for her and a twin who feels jealous at the attention she receives. I do think some of this story was presented a bit through rose-colored glasses (and McLaughlin even acknowledges that in her author's note): Dylan has a boyfriend who is fully accepting, a family who supports her, and the financial resources to seek treatment. It may not be the most realistic portrayal of DID around. But it's certainly eye-opening, and I believe thoughtfully done (no shame, no mocking).

This is a quiet novel, with the only real plot Dylan's diagnosis and her working through to discover the source of her trauma. It's very dark at times, with a huge set of trigger warnings* (see the bottom of this review). But it's compelling and fascinating and well-done, with McLaughlin's typical laser focus on a topic.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in return for an unbiased review. Look for PIECES OF ME on 4/18/2023!!

*trigger warnings: suicide, child abuse/sexual assault, alcohol abuse

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I have been so long alone: CITY OF DREAMS.

City of Dreams by Don Winslow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In the second book of Don Winslow's Danny Ryan series, we find Danny Ryan on the run, escaping everything that went down in Providence between the Irish and Italian mob families. He and his loyal crew make for the sunny shores of California--with Danny's elderly father, Marty, and young son, Ian, in tow. Before they know it, they are drawn into the world of Hollywood, and Danny finds himself in love with a famous actress playing a role in a movie based on his Dogtown experiences.

I fell in love with Don Winslow's books last year and adored the first book in this series, CITY ON FIRE. The second one was not quite what I was expecting, but it was certainly an interesting and fascinating read. While FIRE delved deep into the nuances of the mob world and Danny's ties to Dogtown, this novel meanders a bit, spending a lot of time in Hollywood and Las Vegas, as Danny attempts to start a new life, but cannot quite break free from his past. Central to this is the fact that two of his crew, Sean and Kevin, aka "the Altar Boys" stumble upon the fact that there is a movie being made based on the Italian and Irish mob families of Rhode Island--there's even someone playing Danny! As Sean and Kevin become move involved on set, eventually Danny must be as well, and soon he's dating an actress and splashed all over the papers. Not exactly the reclusive Danny Ryan we are used to!

This is a typical Winslow tome filled with a ton of characters--we still hear from a bunch of folks in Rhode Island--but the main focus is, of course, Danny and his new start. There's less focus on the intricacies of the mob world, but plenty of violence and gritty crime. We also learn a lot about the movie business and get more glimpses into the life of Danny's estranged mother. I felt the story bounced around a lot--both character-wise and plot-wise--but I stayed enthralled. Winslow is such a great storyteller, bringing to life his detailed worlds so well. Plus, watching Danny struggle with his conscience (how much does he want, or not want, to remain a part of the world he left behind) and grapple with exactly what he would do to hold his family (both real and crew) together is fascinating and extremely well-done. At his heart, he's a father, a son, and the leader of his crew.

There's excerpt at the end of DREAMS from the third book, and I cannot wait to read it. I also need to continue catching up on my Don Winslow backlist! 4 stars.

I received a copy of this book from William Morrow and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

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But when he smiles, I don't care about the past: ROGUE.

Rogue by Elle Kennedy
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Ever since Casey Tresscott was pulled from a car submerged in a lake and left bleeding by the shore, everyone has treated her with kid gloves. The only exception is Fenn Bishop; Fenn and Casey have only grown closer since Casey's accident. But Fenn is carrying a secret about that night which will change their relationship forever.

I quite enjoyed the first book in this series, MISFIT, which focused more on Casey's sister, Sloane. This one was not quite as juicy and sexy as the first, with more emphasis on the Casey and Fenn angst versus romance. There is also a lot of time spent on figuring out the history and mystery around Casey's accident as Sloane and her boyfriend, RJ, unravel what really happened. I was frustrated by the lack of truth telling here (Fenn letting everyone know the truth from the beginning would have saved a lot of trouble). However, what I love about these books is that they are fun, dramatic, and sexy--and perhaps not the most realistic. They can be silly, and I'm terrified by how much sex and drugs these high school students are engaging in, but these are wonderful escapist reads that I cannot resist. 3.5 stars.

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About the lies that have stolen my thunder: THE GODS OF GUILT.

The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mickey Haller is struggling after a failed DA campaign. He's on the outs with his daughter and working boring legal cases. Then he gets the call to defend someone accused of murder and quickly learns the victim involved was one of his old clients, a former prostitute he thought helped get on track to a better life. The case soon puts Mickey on a path toward corruption and danger.

I've been re-reading THE LINCOLN LAWYER series over time, but while reading this novel, I realized I'm not sure I ever read THE GODS OF GUILT. As always, this was a solid thriller from Connelly. Great characters, excellent mystery, and wonderful courtroom scenes. I hated seeing Mickey down and depressed and on the outs with Hayley, especially since it meant few appearances from his ex, Maggie. But luckily we saw a lot of Lorna and Cisco, Mickey's faithful associates. I love the dynamics between Mickey and his team--they always add just enough humor and sarcasm to keep the complete darkness of the story at bay.

This is definitely a depressing read at times, but it offers an excellent and in-depth story that delves into the world of prostitution, drugs, the DEA, and more. 4 stars.

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Just hold me close and love me: ROMANTIC COMEDY.

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sally is a writer for a late-night comedy sketch show, "The Night Owls" (TNO). After a failed marriage and some disastrous relationships, she's all but given up on love. But when famous musician Noah Brewster appears as the celebrity guest on TNO, Sally feels a spark as they collaborate on some sketches for the show. However, she can't help but feel that it's impossible that someone as famous and handsome as Noah would ever fall for her.

Sittenfeld has written a gorgeous novel that deftly explores all the tropes and intricacies of falling in love in today's society. This is no typical romance, so do not go in expecting that. It's a very different sort of romantic tale--one Sittenfeld has composed in three sorts of parts--and one that incorporates the pandemic.

COMEDY begins in 2018, when Noah and Sally meet on TNO. This portion covers about the first half of the book, and it's the one piece that felt a little long to me, as it's part history of Sally's time at TNO and a very intricate description of TNO itself. Sometimes these in-depth details are a bit much. Where the book excels is Sally herself--with her insecure personality and witty humor, as she deals with being a female writer on the show and her own foibles--is she a good enough writer, will she find love, etc. The book is very existential with much thinking about relationships, but it pulls it off. I liked Sally a lot and could identify with her anxious, insecure, introverted self, so that helped a lot!

The next section of COMEDY is told all in emails. How you forget the intimacy of emails in this texting age! At this point, we are in the pandemic. The final part of the book is more normal narrative. At no point is this a steamy romance, but it's somehow incredibly easy to root for Sally and Noah and see their feelings progress for one another. Finally, we have a book about a celebrity falling for a "normal person" (though, honestly, Sally has an agent and famous friends!) that acknowledges the difficulties of said situation. And don't worry, Sally will stress about the situation enough for all of us, anyway!

COMEDY is different--it's a very different sort of romance, but exactly the kind Sittenfeld should write. I was dubious for a few moments, but was soon quite swept up in Sally and Noah's world. This book made me laugh out loud over and over. It's hilarious. I loved how relatable Sally was. Finally a romance where we acknowledge the difficulties and little humiliations of relationships. Also, Sally mentions Mary Chapin Carpenter (my favorite musical artist in the entire world) TWICE and the Indigo Girls play a key role in the plot, so I cannot help but love this book. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Random House and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for ROMANTIC COMEDY on 04/04/2023!!

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Let your waves crash down on me and take me away: THE SOULMATE.

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Gabe and Pippa are trying to start over in a new place, but unfortunately their new house is located at The Drop, an infamous place for people to jump off the cliffs to take their own lives. Gabe, however, has managed to talk several people off The Drop and save them. But one evening, Pippa spots a woman at The Drop. Gabe goes out to talk to her, but the next thing Pippa sees, Gabe is standing at the edge, and the woman is gone. Soon she realizes Gabe knew the woman. As questions start to mount, Pippa wonders if her beloved husband pushed her...

This is a fast read about marriage and murder! It was a good read, though I never felt fully invested. There's no one character you truly want to root for and the story is a bit strange, involving mental health issues, marriage problems, angry coworkers, illegal business dealings, and more. The book constantly flashes between then and now, with flashbacks to Pippa's tumultuous marriage with Gabe. There is also a POV from the victim, as she resides in the "liminal space." Some of the time switches are very abrupt, so it was hard to keep up at times. I am also not sure that THE SOULMATE always portrayed mental health in the best light. Its treatment left me feeling a little... off.

There are definitely some good twists in this one, and I flew through it. If you love dark thrillers that explore relationships, you'll enjoy THE SOULMATE. 3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in return for an unbiased review.

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