So Happy Together by Olivia Worley Review

This review contains minor spoilers - no major plot points are revealed!

The summary for this novel really caught my eye, and since my thriller to, well, everything else ratio has been seriously lacking, I figured now was the time to finally move this from TBR to read. The summary really drew me in, and you can honestly fly through this book no problem - more than likely a same-day start and finish can be in your future. The pacing is well-managed and keeps the reader engaged while adding in elements of surprise and twists that allows the plot to move forward without falling stagnant. The more you learn about Jane, the more you realize that she is not at all what she appears to be - the same goes for Zoe and Collin, and as readers watch their twisted dynamic escalate to unimaginable means, we are thrown into a whirlwind tale of disastrous means.

We see Jane's obsession with Collin right from the beginning, and sure, thinking you had something special with a guy only to have him end things with you and start something serious with someone else almost immediately after can be shocking, but Jane was taking her plan to get him back to another level. And by another level, I mean straight-up stalking. Girl, whatever gets the job done! But her plan to get him back goes array in the most unexpected way possible and she suddenly finds herself embroiled in Collin and his girlfriend, Zoe, lives as Zoe's latest friend. With this friendship comes the unraveling of everyone's perceptions of one another as dark truths are revealed and moralities are put to the test.

I love how complex our big three in this book were - Collin, Jane, and Zoe all have such interesting character developments throughout the book. There are times where you think you know exactly where each of them will end up, only to be thrown off your trail in the very next chapter when something truly unruly is discovered. Whether it is the death of a side character, a secret past revealed, or further entanglement into each other's lives, the author is able to create a sense of unease for the reader as they grow more concerned for how everything will play out. Especially when things go array and plans are set in motion to take down Collin, we see these characters go to new levels of unhinged.

Every character had a dark side that was just waiting to be revealed - whether it was already on the surface or waiting to be revealed, the author maintains reader attention and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I am not a frequent thriller reader, so when I do dive into the genre, I like to make it count - and So Happy Together has certainly made the cut. I look forward to reading more of Worley's work and explore her realm of mystery.

You can add So Happy Together on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

House of Hearts by Skyla Arndt ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! House of Hearts will be available on September 2, 2025.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group / Viking Books for Young Readers for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. I have been itching for a gothic dark academia book, and when this standalone popped up, I knew I had to dive in. With Violet searching for answers after her best friend passes away at an exclusive school, she is determined to attend and finally set the record straight - was her friend murdered, or was there something more at play?

As Violet assimilates herself into the school environment and meets the students she believes played a role in her friend's passing, she soon discovers that there is much more than what meets the eye when it comes to the secret society's true intentions. She forms an unusual yet enticing bond with Clavin Lockwood - the brother of the very boy she believes killed her friend or at least had a hand to play in the "freak accident" that lead to her demise. As Calvin and Violet interact, it is clear that their relationship will certainly have an interesting course.

The "intermission" chapters from Anastasia definitely added an extra element to the story that allowed readers to take a step back from the story at hand and look at the origins of what is driving this society's interests. As Violet's journey progresses, the information that we learn from these interlude chapters sheds light on information Violet uncovers and leaves little clues on where her story is headed and what revelations she will make as she works with Calvin. It would have been interesting to see even more development on Anastasia and Helen's sisterly relationship and what caused such a riff between the two - while we do get brief glances, more interactions would have beneficial for the significance of what plays out.

This book was a lot shorter than I expected, and I honestly wish it was longer - to no fault to the author, the plot moved very quickly, and I would have loved to see the background lore expanded upon, along with Calvin and Violet's banter and back-and-forth to develop as a more will-they-won't-they situation. That being said, I flew through this book in just about two hours, and the writing did have me locked into the story. I do think that the side characters, while important, did take up a lot of story space that could have been dedicated to more intriguing plot points.

This book has the same vibes as Boys with Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell and We Are Villains by Kacen Callender but with a touch of paranormal whimsy that is seen in Bunny by Mona Awad and Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. I had a fun time reading this and truly enjoyed the paranormal aspects that the author added it to the story - it made the stakes higher and drew me in to understand how everything would turn out for Violet, Calvin, and the rest of the Lockwoods.

You can add House of Hearts on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Boys with Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! This is an ARC review - Boys with Sharp Teeth will be available on April 8, 2025. 

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Roaring Book Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. The premise of this book - and its gorgeous cover - drew me in immediately, and I was thrilled that a paranormal mystery would be making its way into my pile. This book does not waste any time in introducing the main character and the haunting reason on why she has enrolled in Huntsworth Academy. Right off the bat, I was reminded of how I felt when reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt - there was something sinister in the air, and you could tell that there were secrets hidden between the walls of this school and its students.

Marin has infiltrated this prestigious school in order to uncover her cousin's murderer, and in order to do so, she has enrolled under the alias Jamie Vane, and is quick to associate herself with the group of students she suspects of being guilty. With Henry, Adrian, and Baz at the top of her list, she begins her quest to gain evidence and confessions to the crime that took her cousin from her, all while trying not to tip them off or reveal her true identity. However, things are not as they seem at this school, and something much more unnerving has encompassed the lives of some of these students. As Marin grows closer to her peers, she unknowingly thrusts herself into a paranormal conundrum that has its talons in the very individuals she seeks answers from.

Henry and Adrian's relationship is so incredibly complex and as readers, we are able to see how co-dependent and intricate it is, even without necessarily having their perspectives throughout the book. We see their lives tethered together through Marin's eyes and the slow progression of Marin herself being weaved into their intimate and alluring dependency. My mind kept referring to the trio as the evil Challengers - everything from their interactions to their intimacies are convoluted and go well beyond the surface level. Adrian and Henry go in tandem with one another - where one is, the other follows - and this certainly causes some riffs as the story goes on and Marin develops differing relationships with the boys.

I fell in love with the setting of this book - Howell does an excellent job immersing the reader into the story and making you feel as though you are walking the halls or attending the parties with the students. The introduction of paranormal elements was a great choice - much like Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, we are able to enter a dark academia setting while experiencing something greater than mortal beings. This addition to the story only solidified my interest and captured me into the plot - we discover everything as Marin does, and it allows us to stay oblivious to the true nature of some of the students until the very moment the information is revealed and we are thrust into the mortifying truth.

Boys with Sharp Teeth was one of my most anticipated 2025 reads and it truly lived up to all of my expectations. Rarely do I see a young adult mystery that captures the true horrors of what people are capable of while also diving into the unknown and paranormal. This is the perfect book for those looking to ease into the genre without being overloaded with information. Howell's incorporation of Decartes and classical literature elevated the undertones of this novel to the fullest extent, and makes me even more excited to Meditations, which has been sitting on my shelf for a few months begging me to crack it open.

You can add Boys with Sharp Teeth on Goodreads now, and follow the authors to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter (X), and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

The Things We Do to Our Friends by Heather Darwent Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

I have not felt a thrill like this since season two of Tell Me Lies aired - this was exactly what I was looking for: messy friend group, insane secrets, competitive friendships, and absolute chaos. As the reader, you are immediately thrown into craziness, and spend the entire book watching as the characters take everything one step too far, while simultaneously avoid being held accountable for their actions. Clare, our very unreliable narrator, is thrown into a world where she is clearly the outsider, yet longingly wants to be part of an inner circle that will never accept her.

Her co-dependency on Tabitha and their slightly more than platonic relationship is the driving force for Clare's eagerness to join a friend group full of people that truly do not even like each other. As she reinvents herself in order to please those around her, secrets are revealed and dig their claws into her life, desperate to come out yet aggressively pushed under the surface in order to salvage her standing in the group. The group will be accepting one moment, then cold and distant the next - while Clare pretends this does not interfere with her internal drive for acceptance, it is visible to the group, ensuring their hold over her actions.

Tabitha very clearly will die if she is not the center of attention, and it is clear from her actions and deep-rooted desire to be the leader in every situation. While she does hold the power, the others are not immune to the desire to be in charge - you see them conform to her will, yet are quick to side against her the minute she leaves the room. Their toxic tendencies make this an exhilarating read, keeping you on the edge of your seat solely to see what insane side plot they will come up with to descend upon the locals.

Watching Clare slowly unravel and reveal the most insane and chaotic information about herself was like watching a car wreck in action but in slow motion. She is absolutely unhinged, and with her as the narrator, we are thrust into her line of thinking and deranged logic she places behind every one of her choices. It was hilarious to watch Tabitha match her freak, and then totally go off the rails when she realized Tabitha is just as unpredictable as herself. Everyone is manipulating everyone in subtle ways, and the consequences of their actions causes such a severe snowball effect.

Finn's presence as a side character provided the outsider's view, especially when he and Clare essentially began on the same social standing when the book began. His commentary on the group before Clare slowly became entangled with them only intensified as he watched Clare become one of them. However, it seemed that while Clare longed to be a part of their group, she was still quick to dismiss the closeness she shared with them when conversing with Finn.

This was juicy and addicting... every chapter had me sucked further into the madness, and as the characters turned sour, it only draws you in more. Watching their slow descent into revealing their true intentions behind every carefully thought out action was like seeing into their mind and understanding how their brains functioned. Darwent's ability to create three-dimensional characters while only giving the perspective of one is worthy of the highest of praises.

For fans of The Secret History by Donna Tartt, Bunny by Mona Awad, and Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering, this book captures the intense and intimate relationships that entwine a deeply dysfunctional friend group that has dire consequences on their lives. I absolutely loved the complex character development and conflicting actions made by the characters, and cannot wait to see what Darwent has in store in her next work.

You can add The Things We Do to Our Friends on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah Review

This is a spoiler-free review! The version I am reading is an ARC -- any changes made for the final publication are not reflected in this review. A list of trigger warnings is available in the beginning of the book.

We are given four point of views throughout the story -- Delilah, Jude, Whitney, and Bo -- all of which have lost their mothers in unexplainable disappearances in their small town of Bishop one night. Everyone who lives there says that nothing bad happens, except for the occasional woman going missing or being found dead in their front yard. But no worries! The town seems completely unfazed by these tragic events, which does not sit right with any of the girls.

Living in a run down house, the girls work through their feelings of mourning due to the belief that their mothers are dead, despite no bodies being recovered, unlike some girls who have been found dead all over town. The land of the town is more than dirt and sunflowers, but something more -- it is alive, and requires much more than water and sunlight in order to thrive and grow. There is something sinister happening to these women, and the girls are determined to get to the bottom it before something happens to another girl.

I really enjoyed the multiple point of views that the author gives -- it really lets you dive into the minds of each of the girls and understand their own unique lives. They each had a different relationship with their mothers, and the author does an excellent job showcases what the girls are going through. Bo in particular had the most strained relationship with her mother, while Delilah seemed to have the strongest bond with hers. Jude and Whitney's relationship with their mother is somewhat in the middle of Bo and Delilah's, yet we see more of their struggle in the relationship they have with each other as twins.

As the story goes on, more secrets are revealed and more questions are asked -- about the disappearances, who the girls can trust, and what in the world is going on with all of these sunflowers. In addition to trying to figure out what happened to their mothers, the girls have their own problems to address, starting with their personal relationships and struggles. Whitney is still recovering from the death of her girlfriend, Jude and Delilah seem to be falling for the same boy, and Bo has gone through something horrific that no one knows about.

The paranormal aspect of the book was very well done -- I did not find it overwhelming, and it was woven into the story at a pace that made the reader understand what was happening, while still leaving some mystery until the very end. The mystery of what the land desires and how it is given what it needs plays out as we get more into the minds of each girl, and characters come into play as more is discovered.

Hannah's writing style has great prose, and adds a sort of unknowingness into the story as you are not sure if what each girl says is true or an influence from the town. There was a ton of potential for the story to conclude on a really big bang, and while I was satisfied with the ending, there was room to really push barriers with the characters and plot. If you are really paying attention from the beginning, you can call the ending right away, but it doesn't take away from the read.

If you are looking for something to fill the void that Sharp Objects left you, this may be the book to launch you back into mystery and thrillers. The eerie atmosphere that the town provides would make this book the perfect autumn read.

You can add Where Darkness Blooms on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

The Secret History by Donna Tartt Review

This is a spoiler-free review! A list of trigger warnings can be found here.

The opening line will have you hooked from the very beginning -- knowing that a student is dead and the narrator had something to do with it so explicitly before even knowing the main character's name feels as though you know a secret that you should not. You are not even familiar with the personal information about Richard, yet you are immediately privy to his deepest secret.

Our main characters include Richard, Henry, Charles, Camilla, Francais, and our deceased student, Bunny. It is quickly established in the story who exactly runs this social circle of exclusive Greek students, with the top of the hierarchy led by Henry, and everyone else following his every move and Latin conjugation. Unlike the rest of the group, Richard is not wealthy and comes to university on a scholarship in hopes of swapping out his pre-medical track for studying the classics and continuing his Greek education.

I found that as I read the story, the more angered towards Bunny I became. At first, he simply appears to be yet another pretentious classics student, but his flaws continue to unravel and reveal themselves as Richard becomes closer to him. As Richard recounts the events leading up to Bunny's death, we learn more about Bunny's character and his hateful views as he deceives the people he calls friends in an attempt to be viewed as part of the elite.

Obviously, murder is wrong and should not be condoned, but well... Bunny... had to go. He was a deceitful human being with racist, anti-semetic, homophobic, and bigoted views, and was mooching off of his friends in hopes that they would not even care that he would never pay a single cent. Bunny expected everyone to drop what they were doing in order to help him, whether it be take him to the eye doctor or cover his share of the tab for dinner. He was stuck in this endless cycle of living up to the facade he created for himself and constantly, in vain, attempted to top whatever eccentric story or adventure he previously told.

The infamous 100-page chapter is anything but a rumor, and perhaps contains the most in-depth detailing about all of the students and the way that they not only deal with grief and emotions, but how they respond to the environment that they so meticulously created. While this chapter is longer than the usual chapter found in books, I have to say that it flowed so well that you do not even notice it has been going on for so long. The specific events in the chapter require a lot of elaboration and detail, and Tartt does an excellent job in captivating the reader to hang onto every word.

Some of the most beautiful and insightful thoughts are shared in The Secret History, with Tartt incorporating influential classic figures with 1980s pop culture as college students are finding themselves and finding out what they are truly capable of. For a group of twenty-somethings, they are incredibly mature and show an understanding of complex viewpoints, while also showing the immaturity that is going through life as they attempt to find their purpose. Even after finishing this book, I find "beauty is terror" utterly simplistic yet profound -- who knew just three words could encompass such a intense notion that one must truly fear the final product.

The last 120 pages or so had my jaw dropping left an right -- some things had me shocked, and others had me surprised that Tartt had actually taken certain relationships to the level that she did. Everything ties together as you watch this group of amateur classicists reap the consequences of their actions and gain a much more finite understanding on not only death, but life.

I have to say that this book may not be for everyone -- as stated before, not only are the characters in this book pretentious, but so is the writing. You need to know what you are getting yourself into before starting this journey. As someone who loves the philosophy and took a number of classes in classics, I was ready to be reading the most pretentious book in the room. Riddled with morally grey characters with a knack for knocking people down a few pegs at every chance they get, Tartt creates a competitive environment that allows their egos to flourish and their rationale to go out the window as they embark on a Hellenistic journey.

You can add The Secret History on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date with releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet, #1) by H.D. Carlton Review

This review contains spoilers for Haunting Adeline. This book was previously banned on Amazon due to the trigger warning. Please read reviews or go to the author's website for more details on trigger warnings. It is recommended that you read the prequel novella, Satan's Affair, prior to reading the Cat and Mouse Duet, but is not required.

I keep telling myself that I am going to stop taking recommendations from TikTok and actually work on my TBR pile, yet for some reason I could not go any longer going without reading this book after about ten videos in a row showed up on my feed, so it was a sign. Now hear me out -- the red roses being left for Addie... I knew my Phantom of the Opera would come back in full force one day and did not expect this book to be the driving force for that. Yes, I did see the red flags in Zade, but I have chosen to ignore them!

We get a dual POV between Addie and Zade that are both in first person, and get to see how absolutely off the walls he is when it comes to Addie, but at the same time we see him literally killing the nastiest people in society. Meanwhile, Addie is running around her victorian manor renovating and enjoying having a stalker while being a successful author. Clearly, they were made for each other.

I cannot believe I read half of this stuff with my own two eyes... he put a GUN inside of this girl... it is so much worse than the golf ball scene in the second 365 Days movie. I genuinely did not think anything could be so unhinged, yet here we are. As yet another disclaimer, this book is clearly meant for adults and contains so much smut that it is basically dripping off the pages, and the gun scene only happened within the first third of the book. He does the craziest things to this girl and a lot of it definitely borderlines on psychotic.

Zade is running around inside and outside of Addie's house, leaving body parts, red roses, and empty whiskey glasses in a trail behind him as he hides in her closet and does unspeakable things to her. I genuinely do not know how Addie was surprised to wake up with him in her house so often -- she literally was always hearing him walk around and would straight up have staring contests with him while he stood outside of her windows.

Addie always seemed shocked that her little stalker would show up inside her house and do exactly what he said he would do to her in their texts to each other. Yes, they text each other. Because that is a completely normal thing to do with a stalker that has killed dozens if not hundreds of people.

Zade is out here killing rapists and pedophiles and acting like it is his side gig to stalking Addie as if he did not create an entire company whose sole purpose to get these people off the streets and to save the people that they have kidnapped and trafficked. I have to say, this man is quick with his business and does not hesitate even for a second when he and his team are on a mission. Every time that he is with the guys that him and his organization are trying to take down, I wanted to throw up in my mouth. It really is disgusting, and thankfully there was nothing graphic when it came to those scenes.

The biggest crime committed in this book by Addie is her using a straw to drink a martini. She is woman in her late twenties and does not know how to properly drink a martini... Maybe I did overestimate her self preservation and survival skills after reading that scene in the bar. Also, it felt as though the author kind of abandoned her author storyline, because I swear she was supposed to be reviewing her editor's suggestions, but I could have made that up in my head.

I have to say that the beginning of the book was more enjoyable than the last part of the book -- the last one third mostly focuses on Addie and Daya trying to solve Gigi's murder, as well as Zade trying to put an end to the rituals that are taking place. I'm not saying that it was bad, but it felt like the book was losing it momentum when it came to Addie and Zade interacting with one another and set them on two paths that definitely needed some work done, plot wise. I think I ended up overhyping this book more than I should have, and pretty much went in blind other than knowing that a girl is getting stalked and she likes it.

This book deals with some pretty heavy stuff and I definitely agree with reviews saying that it leans more towards the 21+ rating rather than 17+ due to its content. The author does do a pretty good job of creating this creepy environment as Addie's house, but I am still left a little confused if there were actually ghosts in her house, or if it was just a feeling. We are of course left on a big cliffhanger, and while I originally did not think that I was going to read the second book, now I might just have to, so I can find out who betrayed Jay and Zade and what is going to happen to Addie after that whacky car crash.

You can add Haunting Adeline and the rest of the series on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

The Cherished by Patricia Ward Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

I would first like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of The Cherished in exchange for an honest review -- this is an uncorrected proof, and there may be changes to the book in the final version.The Cherished releases on April 18, 2023.

I first have to say that I absolutely love the cover art for this book, and it is one of the main things that drew me to reading it. Combined with the description, my expectations were high, especially because I was in the mood for a good horror book. However, the writing was not what I expected, and it felt as though the story was dragging on while at the same time throwing in random information or characters that did not have anything to do with the plot.

Jo, Abigail, and Robert all have a nagging voice about them that makes almost everything that they said sound grating to the ear. Jo is sixteen years old and thinks in the most outrageous ways that cause her character to be hard to follow, especially as the main character. Abigail's character felt two-dimensional at first, but then started to get a little bit more in depth as the story went on, but never really expanded in a way that made the reader want to read about her.

The plot felt sporadic and was moving at an inconsistent pace -- I felt as though I was reading a book that had passages removed, making it harder to follow what exactly was going on. Instead of a horror book, it felt more like a short story you would read in English class that barely touched the surface of what horror embodies. Instead of being a little spooked while reading, I actually felt annoyed at almost every single character, especially Jo, because no one would communicate with each other, or they would talk in vague warnings that were not going to help anyone.

Hattie's character, while interesting and helpful to the plot, actually provides yet another annoyance to the reading experience. She just feels very out of place and not well developed enough for her implied importance to actually take root in the reader's view of her. The relationship she has with Tom is very much father/daughter, but they also try to warn Jo about certain things while not telling her anything all at all, which is frustrating to read.

I found that the plot's pacing was making it hard to read the book -- it was slow in the first half, but then it started to jump around quickly and begin to incorporate ideas that seemed to be only half-developed rather than something more solid. 

Overall, I think that the concept was definitely there, but the execution was not living up to how it needed to be played out. I felt a little bored during a lot of the chapters, and other chapters were kind of just jumping around and did not feel as though they were completed. Expecting a horror book, I was disappointed to say the least -- there was certainly nothing scary about this book, and while the concept would be considered eerie, it just did not pull through.

If you are looking for a quick read that has somewhat of evil fairytale elements, then The Cherished will definitely check those boxes for you. 

You can add The Cherished on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers Review

This review contains very mild spoilers for A Certain Hunger. A list of trigger warnings can be found here.

Welcome to the NBC's Hannibal to girlboss cannibalism pipeline, so glad you could join us for dinner. We are taken into the mind of Dorothy, a woman jailed for her actions as a food critic turned cannibal, through her first-person memoir as she recounts her journey that led her to where she is. Dorothy is quick, frank, and gets straight to the point as she details her killings -- and recipes -- to the greatest extent. 

With each chapter focusing on a particular dish, accompanied often by a particular kill or experience, we gain insight on Dorothy's inner workings and her view on life, food, and the complications of feelings. She recounts her initial love for food and the day that she was thrown into a career as a food critic, her college days and friendship with Emma, and the countless entanglements she has with men who become meals.

Dorothy's meticulous planning of both her meals and her killings are done in such a way where both feel as though she is reading through a recipe book and adjusting the measurements to her own preference. She is sharp and calculated with nearly everything she does in her life, even after she is jailed -- we see it in the group therapy sessions, her refusal to allow Emma to visit her, and her acknowledgement of her never-empty commissary account.

She is at times reckless, and some could argue that the feelings she claims she does not experience make an appearance when she is at her most vulnerable. However, her recklessness is still coated in careful planning and has passion behind it, even if it ends in carnage. At times her killings are spontaneous, even taking her by surprise in the moment, and others have been brewing inside her for some time before executing them, much like her take down of a certain food critic magazine founder.

Some of the men that Dorothy killed were actually good people -- and even she admits that, literally during some of her plots she admits that some did not deserve the meal that they became, if only they had been more careful with their actions. Loyal to Dorothy, but not loyal to their wives. Unable to be persuaded to eat anchovies, but able to focus on it until his last breath. The men that Dorothy surrounds herself with all have flaws that may initially turn other people away from them, but draw Dorothy in -- perhaps the intrigue overshadows the indiscretions, perhaps the sex really was that good -- and that leads Dorothy down a road she expected she would eventually go down.

Summers stays true to the satire of early foodieism in the book summary as we see the exaggeration of Dorothy's superiority when it comes to cooking and ingredients, reviewing restaurants, and the transition from glossy printed magazines to the online buzzword food articles. From the preference of white truffle versus black truffle -- personally, I agree with Dorothy on the favoritism of the white truffle -- to the graphic depictions of Dorothy's crimes and acknowledgement of her elitism, Summers is able to create such a complex character that pulls traits from the likes of Amy Dunne of Gone Girl and Patrick Bateman of American Psycho.

The writing is extraordinary and I cannot believe this is the author's first novel -- it truly is one of the most compelling reads that I have come across as a reader. The complexity of Dorothy's character and relationships she forms with her lovers/meals, along with the friendship she has with Emma bring her character such depth that you feel as though you know everything you could about her in under three hundred pages. Dorothy is clearly not the perfect person, and a single slip-up being her downfall shows that even the most strategic killer can be brought down by a simple mistake.

A page-turning read that has you on the edge of your seat as Dorothy recounts every step she took that led her to where she is now, from Corpse Reviver #2 to barely edible prison food and cup noodle, we are taken on her journey fueled by rage, intrigue, and superiority. A must-read for readers looking to expand their literary genres and explore unhinged main characters that lead you to root for their success, even as they commit truly heinous acts.

You can add A Certain Hunger on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!

Verity by Colleen Hoover Review

This review contains spoilers for Verity - please read with caution. Trigger warnings include graphic depictions of violence, child death and violence, and murder.

You can read my reviews for other Colleen Hoover books on my blog, here: It Ends With Us and Finding Cinderella.

I want to start off this review by saying this has to be one of Colleen Hoover's best works -- Verity is very different from her other novels, but the suspense of reading this book had me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this book to fans of thriller and psychological genres, especially fans of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and Bunny by Mona Awad.

The first chapter of Verity does not even begin to describe the emotions and twists that you will be put through by the end of the book. Hoover starts us off by immediately having our main female character, Lowen, bear witness to a tragedy that she could have been spared from seeing if the circumstances were in her favor. This tragedy brings our main male character, Jeremy, into Lowen's life and his presence is not fleeting -- he is here to stay. If only I could yell into the pages and warn Lowen that any man with a "J" name is not to be trusted, she would not be in this mess.

Lowen, a writer whose books are being published but not hitting the charts, is brought to a meeting where she is offered the chance to finishing writing Verity Crawford's bestselling thriller series, as she has been in an accident that leaves her unable to do so. And because there are no coincidences in Hoover's books, Jeremy happens to be Verity's husband, aiding in the search for a co-author.

Jeremy and Lowen's first interaction with each other was Jeremy help clean blood off of Lowen and bond over the fact that they both had a death in the family very recently. And as soon as they have the opportunity, they leave each other's lives and are just as quickly thrown back in when Lowen decides to accept the offer of completing Verity's book series. Personally if I was Lowen, I would be running for the hills -- why does her writing sound so similar to Verity's? How did they discover this? 

Under a pen name, Lowen accepts the offer once negotiating the price, and travels to Jeremy and Verity's home in order to go through her office and notes to get herself sorted and in the mindset to complete the series. It is in her office that Lowen discovers a manuscript -- Verity's autobiography -- and begins a descent into unravelling who Verity was as a person before her accident, and what haunts this family. Lowen will read a chapter at a time, and if I was in her shoes, I would be devouring the entire manuscript instead of putting it away when she felt it became "repetitive," as this causes Lowen to only know part of Verity's side to the story as she continues to stay at the Crawford home. 

Verity's manuscript is filled with some of the most insane encounters and actions that I have read. She thinks about killing one of her daughters, Harper, because she thinks Harper will kill Chastin. The things that she did to Harper are insane, I have never read a book where a character had such a harsh reveal of their actions, and I was truly shocked.

In a home that does not feel like a home, Lowen begins to spend her time reading this manuscript rather than actually sorting through Verity's notes on her book series. We begin to Lowen judge Verity's actions and somewhat confront Verity once strange occurrences happen near Verity. I was on the edge of my seat when Crew, Jeremy and Verity's son, was found in Verity's room with a knife and bleeding from his chin -- especially when he told Lowen that his mother does not like it when he touches her knives. Like Lowen, if there was a sign to get out of that house, this would be it.

As I was reading this book, I was increasingly becoming paranoid that Verity was literally going to be standing behind me wherever I turned -- Hoover does a great job in creating her presence in the house and in Lowen's life. It felt as if Verity was haunting not only Lowen but the reader as well, almost like you could feel her presence when you were reading scenes where Lowen was sure that Verity was standing at the stairs or in the window. Every time it was mentioned that Verity was either awake or walking around, I could only picture Samara from The Ring movies.

This book had me on the edge of my seat and constantly looking over my shoulder as I devoured this in essentially one sitting. Hoover draws the reader immediately in and you are given new, wild information about Verity throughout the book at the pace of Lowen's interest in her manuscript. We see the outside view of Lowen and Jeremy's relationship through the eyes of April, Verity's nurse, and through Crew, the sole living child of Verity.

Much like how Verity's manuscript showed her obsession with Jeremy, we slowly see Lowen go deeper and deeper into a trace for Jeremy, and eventually Lowen seems to make her time at the Crawford house revolve around Verity and not completing her book series.

It was so incredibly interesting to see Verity's thought process through her manuscript pages and the constant struggles and battles she faced internally and with her family. Her husband expresses early on that he could potentially have more love for the twins than his own wife, and we see Verity's immediate struggle with the realization that the one person that was supposed to love her the most in her life has pushed her down to third place.

I personally thought it was clear that Verity's manuscript was leading to the fact that she knew that Jeremy thought that she had something to do with Harper's death -- even in the beginning of the book when it was revealed that she drowned in the lake, I had a feeling that it was very much not an accident. It is gripping to read Verity's chapters, and the final words in her manuscript only confirm what I had thought, that it was Verity who gave herself the fate she finds herself in now.

But then I read her letter.

Verity's letter to Jeremy reads so differently than her manuscript, feeling filled with more hopeful emotions and urgency to explain her side of the story and give reasoning behind what she wrote in her manuscript. To see her describe Jeremy already have read the manuscript and basically attempt to murder her had me gasping aloud. She is pleading with Jeremy to understand the manuscript and what she witnessed while being in the house as Lowen entered their home and eventually found the printed version of the manuscript Verity so desperately wanted to find.

This letter, explaining that she did not kill her child and that Jeremy was the one responsible for her car accident, makes the reader take a harsh turn into Verity's mindset -- we have only been exposed to her thoughts through a manuscript claiming that she has done a number of heinous things, and now we see her pleading to Jeremy to understand what he actually saw. When Lowen found the letter, I knew in my heart that there was no way Jeremy would ever read it or know it its existence -- he has just murdered his wife, and what would it do to him to find out that she was not the culprit? And what if Lowen is right, and Verity only wrote the letter recently, to cover her tracks or if she survived his attempt on her life? So, that leaves one final question on what to believe.

Are you team manuscript or team letter?

You can add Verity and the rest of Colleen Hoover's books on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

You can catch up with me and my current reads by friending me on Goodreads and following this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram in order to stay up-to-date with any reviews, blog tours, and more!