The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins is an absorbing and suspenseful gothic novel set in Italy.

Synopsis

Emily, the author of a long-running book series, feels like her life is in a rut. Not only has her husband left her, but she’s also suffering from writer’s block. When her lifelong best friend and self-help guru, Chess, invites her to Italy for the summer, Emily joins her, thinking it will be the reset she needs to write her next book.

The villa in Orvieto happens to be where a brutal murder occurred in 1974. Back then, a famous rockstar invited an aspiring musician and his muses to stay at the villa while they produced a new album. After the murder, some of their careers took off, with one of the guests penning a novel that became a classic feminist horror novel. Another, composed a platinum-selling album.

Emily becomes super invested in this tragedy and begins to think there’s more to the story than previously supposed. Meanwhile, tensions between Emily and Chess thicken.

Review of The Villa

This suspenseful drama has dual timelines and dual perspectives. I would not classify this as a thriller. There are several good twists and the pacing is consistent, if a tad on the slower side, which might not be for every reader but worked for this reader here.

It touches on grown men going after minors and the competitive streak that can sometimes surface between friends.

I enjoyed the author’s last book Reckless Girls, but I liked this one even more. The plot is a bit more complex, and the writing is engaging. Usually, I don’t enjoy rockstar themes, but as this took a different approach, it worked for me. And Emily’s POV became more interesting with every chapter. The tidbits on being a published author and the writing process were insightful.

So, I think it’s safe to say Rachel Hawkins is now one of my go-to authors. I can’t wait to see what else she has in store.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Expected Publication: 03 January 2022

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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For past reviews, click here.

A History of Fear by Luke Dumas

A History of Fear reveals one man’s descent into madness.

Synopsis

Scotland, 2017: Grayson Hale, an American grad student, callously murdered his classmate, blaming the devil for his actions.

Following his sentence, that should have been that. However, nineteen months after his conviction, guards find Hale’s lifeless body in solitary confinement at Her Majesty’s Prison Edinburgh, a high-security prison.

Authorities dismiss his death as self-inflicted. But, a few days later, a 200-page manuscript surfaces written by Hale.

It’s up to the reader to decide if Hale was telling the truth or if his childhood fear of the devil sent him on this downward spiral.

Review of A History of Fear

In addition to Hale’s manuscript, the story’s structure is a mix of notes, transcripts, interviews, and news clippings.

I enjoyed this story, but unfortunately, I didn’t love it as much as I had hoped. The pacing was slightly inconsistent. However, things picked up in the final third, and I could not put it down. But then again, one of the big reveals could have been handled better. The breadcrumbs were there, but I never thought it would go in that direction, especially since the book is set in contemporary times. It was more depressing than anything else. I now know what Pink was getting at in her review.

On another note, the writing was excellent and engaging. Although, I was marginally less interested in Hale’s past and more so in his time in Scotland.

This book wasn’t terribly scary, but it has some graphic content that may disturb some readers.

I would definitely consider reading more from the author in the future. I see there’s already another one releasing sometime next year.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Expected Publication: 06 December 2022

Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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For past reviews, click here.

A Small Affair by Flora Collins

A Small Affair has colossal consequences for one high-powered woman in fashion.

Synopsis

Vera is not afraid to go after what she wants, not particular about who she might have to walk over to get there. Vera loves her job, which she’s had a large part in raising from the ground up. When Vera starts seeing Tom, a wealthy tech founder, ten years her senior and soon to divorce his wife, she’s not sure what she thinks of him, but in the right light finds him attractive.

Vera’s life falls apart when she learns Tom and his wife are found dead. The media catches wind of Vera’s affair with the married man and blames her for their deaths. In short order, Vera loses everything and moves in with her mother.

A year later, Vera is ready to return to her old life but knows that people have not yet forgotten the scandal. However, Vera starts to uncover information about the married man that might restore her life and career.

Review of A Small Affair

This is a well-written, slow-burn, character-driven thriller. It never felt boring. I correctly guessed one of the twists, but it was satisfying watching everything come together.

Vera is a complex character, not always likeable but wholly believable. This novel clearly shows how quick people are to condemn strong-willed women, to put them in their “place” at the earliest opportunity. It also touches on how social media can harm one’s mental health.

The ending before the epilogue really had me shaking my head at one of the characters.

This is honestly one of the better thrillers I’ve read in a while. If you like slower, intricately plotted thrillers, you’ll surely enjoy this.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Expected Publication: 27 December 2022

Thank you to MIRA for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For regular reading updates, check out my Goodreads profile.

For past reviews, click here.

Aesthetica by Allie Rowbottom

Aesthetica by Allie Rowbottom takes a sharp look at the dark side of social media.

Synopsis

While Anna waits to go under the knife to reverse all of her past cosmetic procedures, she reflects on her short stint as a social media influencer. Anna is 35 and works at a cosmetics store, but when she was 19, she moved to LA to try to make a name for herself. She didn’t expect the industry to use her and throw her out just as quickly.

The surgery Anna’s waiting to receive is called Aesthetica. In a single procedure, her surgeon will reverse all her Botox, fillers, nose jobs, everything. However, the surgery is high-risk, and there are no guarantees she will survive it.

Disillusioned with the beauty world, Anna wants to revert to her true self and believes this procedure will set her on that path.

Review of Aesthetica by Allie Rowbottom

This literary fiction book has beautiful and evocative writing. The author discusses the compulsion to chase more likes, followers, and brand deals when Instagram was at its peak. It also explores societal beauty standards, feminine rage, and power imbalances.

It would have been easy for the author to have a critical view of Anna. Fortunately, she approached her with sensitivity and nuance, which indicates to me that the author has a thorough understanding of social media.

Overall, this book is an incredible debut, and I cannot wait to see what else she has in store. Indeed, I highly recommend adding this to your tbr piles.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Expected Publication: 22 November 2022

Thank you to Soho Press for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For regular reading updates, check out my Goodreads profile.

For past reviews, click here.

Blackwater Falls by Ausma Zehanat Khan

Blackwater Falls introduces Detective Inaya Rahman in the first book of a new crime series.

Synopsis

Inaya Rahman is part of the Community Response Unit of the Denver Police. When the body of a bright, young Syrian refugee is found strung over the door of a mosque, Detective Rahman and her team investigate who might be behind this murder. She quickly learns that two other Muslim girls have recently gone missing and that the sheriff did not thoroughly investigate their disappearances.

Inaya looks at the major players in this community. Particularly those who are hostile to people of colour and those close to the victim.

Aside from the investigation, Inaya grapples with pleasing her mother, who desperately wants her to get married. She feels like an outsider to her community who views her job as a betrayal. And she receives harassment from the police department and church, which are predominantly white.

Review of Blackwater Falls

This police procedural follows a few POVs, but Inaya’s is the main character arc. As Inaya is the main character, her story is the most fleshed out. I would have liked more chapters from her team members, but maybe we’ll see that in future books.

I didn’t mind the burgeoning romance. It was a bit cringe at times but not totally awkward.

The book’s blurb, and hopefully my synopsis, are very clear that this is a book steeped in racial tensions and politics. It might seem like the author is going overboard to some readers, but this is not a novel experience for many BIPOC, especially women of colour. If it makes you uncomfortable, it should.

I cannot wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend this book.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Expected Publication: 01 November 2022

Thank you to Minotaur Books for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

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For past reviews, click here.

The Prisoner by B. A. Paris

The Prisoner begins with all the fraught tension you’d want in a thriller but quickly unravelled the longer it went on.

Synopsis

The Prisoner opens with vicious men snatching Amelie and her wealthy husband in the middle of the night. She tries and fails to identify her captors.

The story alternates between Amelie’s recent past and her present time in captivity.

As a teenager, Amelie moved to London on her own after both of her parents passed away. Not long after her move, she met Carolyn Blakely, who took her under her wing, giving her a housekeeping job and a place to live.

Now, a few years later, Amelie is the wife of the wealthy Ned Hawthorpe.

Review of The Prisoner

The first half of this book was super compelling, but it went on longer than it probably needed to. It felt like some parts were spoon-fed to the reader.

Much of the story is OTT, but I was still eagerly flipping the pages, keen to see how everything tied together.

I liked Amelie’s initiative to try to gain some control of the situation when she was in captivity.

This book was my first time reading B. A. Paris, and I will definitely check out more of her books in the future.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Expected Publication: 01 November 2022

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For regular reading updates, check out my Goodreads profile.

For past reviews, click here.

Forget Me Not by Miranda Rijks

Forget Me Not has a slow start but gets progressively more gripping and twisty.

Synopsis

Helen has pulled her life together since her husband Paul went missing, presumed dead, five years ago from the Swiss Alps while they were on holiday.

Now Helen is an interior designer with a young daughter and a fiancé. When she receives a call asking if she wants to work on a large project with an even larger budget, Helen thinks it’s too good to be true. It turns out it is because the project is at a Swiss chalet in the same area where Paul disappeared.

But it’s too good of an opportunity to pass up, so Helen makes her way to the chalet. Of course, things do not go to plan, and Helen has to remain professional while everything goes sideways.

Review of Forget Me Not

This compulsive thriller is a quick read and has dual timelines.

Initially, I wasn’t all that interested in the story because it felt like a ho-hum domestic thriller. But after the first twist, I was hooked. However, the twist hinges on a plot device that I could do without.

Most of the characters were unlikeable, which is fine, but they were also a bit flat. I read it solely to find out how Helen and her daughter would fare.

Another thing that started to grate was Helen’s constant assessment of everyone’s English proficiency. Literally everyone. It’s Europe; it’s not uncommon for people to speak more than one language and for one of those languages to be English. Yes, do not go into a foreign country expecting everyone to speak it, but also, maybe don’t comment on how impressed you are with their fluency right when you first meet them. Wow! You speak English so well! It rings just a bit condescending. Okay, rant over.

On another note, the setting was the shining star of this book. I could practically feel the cold seeping in and could easily envision this idyllic mountainscape.

This was my first time reading a Miranda Rijks book, and I might try another by her in the future.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Expected Publication: 26 October 2022

Thank you to Inkubator Books for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For regular reading updates, check out my Goodreads profile.

For past reviews, click here.

The Bequest by Joanna Margaret

The Bequest is a terrific dark academia thriller that leans literary and oozes atmosphere.

Synopsis

Isabel Henley just arrived in Scotland to begin her Ph.D. under the supervision of a lauded feminist professor. However, upon her arrival, Isabel learns that the professor died from a hiking accident.

As Isabel settles into her work with a different advisor, she reunites with Rose, her charismatic and brilliant friend from undergrad.

It comes as a shock when Rose disappears but leaves a suicide note. Isabel suffers another shock, when she receives a message from Rose declaring they are both in danger. Rose implores Isabel to switch to Rose’s research and find a missing emerald from the sixteenth century. This new task sends Isabel across Italy and France seeking answers to save both of their lives.

Review of The Bequest

It sounds ridiculous, and sometimes it was (Isabel is the queen of ignoring red flags), but this story wholly captured my attention from the first page. It drips with gothic atmosphere.

An interest in history is probably a requirement to read this novel. Isabel spends loads of time researching and relaying it to the reader. There are the odd sentences in Italian, French, and Latin. And the author does not always provide a translation and context.

Interestingly, my ARC (advance reader copy) was just over 400 pages, but I noticed the finished version is around 300 pages. I thought some parts were a bit slow, so perhaps the finalized version will be more evenly paced.

If you like dark academia that is heavy on said academia, then you’ll likely enjoy this twisty book. I will definitely read future books by the author.

CW: sexual assault.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Expected Publication: 18 October 2022

Thank you to Scarlet for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For regular reading updates, check out my Goodreads profile.

For past reviews, click here.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura

Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a touching magical realism story about mental health and friendships.

Synopsis

The thought of returning to school makes Kokoro sick to her stomach. One day when she’s lounging at home, she suddenly looks up at her mirror and notices it is glowing. She presses her hand to it, and the next instant, she’s in a castle straight out of a fairytale, greeted by a young girl in a pink lace-trim dress wearing a wolf’s mask.

This Wolf Queen informs Kokoro and the other six group members that they will have nearly a year to hunt for a key to unlock the Wishing Room. The person who finds it will be allowed to enter and have their wish granted. The castle is open from 9-5; if anyone overstays their visit, they’ll promptly be eaten by a wolf.

Review of Lonely Castle in the Mirror

This character-driven novel follows Kokoro’s perspective. It’s split into a month per chapter in the lead-up to their deadline. I think young adult and adult readers would both enjoy this novel. It touches on the effects of bullying and abuse.

Knowing the terms the Wolf Queen set out, I thought there would be more scenes of the teens actively searching for the key, but there were not that many.

There were some odd phrases that I initially thought were due to the translation, but they made a lot more sense by the end.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror

I’ve seen this book floating around for a while and pre-ordered it almost a year ago, but the publication date kept getting pushed back in Canada. So, when I saw it on Netgalley, I requested it immediately. And I’m so glad I did. This book is so cozy and felt like its own fairytale.

If more of this author’s works become translated, I will most definitely read them.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Expected Publication: 18 October 2022

Thank you to Erewhon Books for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For regular reading updates, check out my Goodreads profile.

For past reviews, click here.

A Dowry of Blood by S. T. Gibson

A Dowry of Blood is a dark and delicious story of Dracula and his first bride, Constanta, spread across centuries.

Synopsis

Constanta lies in the mud on the brink of death when a man suddenly appears, saying he cannot save her, but it is in his power to help her. And so Constanta begins her second life with this arresting man who is as passionate as he is cruel.

Constanta tells her story in the form of a letter to her husband, although she never once utters his name. It is her first and last love letter to him because in her own words:

It was never my intention to murder you.
Not in the beginning, anyway.

As her husband adds two more people to their dysfunctional group, Constanta gradually realizes how brutal and suffocating his love could be.

Review of A Dowry of Blood

This seductively written story is a quick read and can be consumed in a single sitting. It held my rapt attention from beginning to end. Although, it took some time to get used to the second-person singular voice.

I thought it would be a bit spicier than it was, considering most vampire books I’ve read are extra spicy. The open-door scenes were pretty brief.

The polyamorous relationship was well done, not just in the bedroom, but in their deep connection with each other.

As this is a dark vampire story, the author has a list of possible triggers at the beginning of the book and on Goodreads (in her review).

A Dowry of Blood

I have no clue what the next book will be like, but I cannot wait to read it. In the meantime, I need to deep dive into the author’s backlist.

My Rating: 🧛‍♀️🧛‍♀️🧛‍♀️🧛‍♀️

Expected Publication: 4 October 2022

Many thanks to Redhook (Orbit) for providing me with a copy to review.

For regular reading updates, check out my Goodreads profile.

For past reviews, click here.