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Episode Thirteen
Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie was such a fun, creepy read. If you love haunted house stories and paranormal investigation shows, this one is right up your alley. The story follows the cast of a ghost-hunting TV show as they film what is supposed to be their final episode inside an infamous haunted mansion. Of course, things don't go according to plan. What starts out feeling like a typical paranormal investigation quickly turns into something much darker, and before long,

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jul 121 min read


The Last One At The Wedding
Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak is one of those books that had me hooked almost immediately. What starts as a father attending his estranged daughter's wedding quickly turns into something much more sinister, and I couldn't wait to find out what was really going on. From the moment Frank arrives, it's obvious something isn't right. The tension just keeps building, and every chapter reveals another secret or leaves you questioning someone's motives. I kept changing my

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jul 111 min read


Mister Magic
Mister Magic by Kiersten White is one of the weirdest books I've read in the best possible way. It's creepy and unsettling, with a constant feeling that something is just... off. The more I read, the more I needed to know what was really going on. The story follows former cast members of a mysterious children's TV show that supposedly never existed. As they reunite years later, buried memories resurface, and the line between reality and nightmare grows harder to discern. It's

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jul 101 min read


Deliverance
Deliverance by James Dickey is one of those books that's every bit as intense as its reputation suggests. I knew the basic story going in, but I wasn't prepared for just how gripping and unsettling it would be. What starts as a canoe trip through the Georgia wilderness quickly turns into a nightmare, and from that point on, the tension never really lets up. The story isn't just about survival—it's about fear, guilt, and what ordinary people are capable of when they're pushed

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jul 91 min read


Unmissing
Unmissing by Minka Kent was one of those books that immediately pulled me in with its premise. A woman returns home after being missing for over a decade, only to find that her husband has remarried, started a new family, and moved on with his life. Talk about an awkward homecoming. This book kept me guessing the entire time. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another secret came to light, sending me in a completely different direction. The story is packed with li

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jul 81 min read


What Remains of You
What Remains of You by Kimberly Hensle Lowrance is one of those books that pulls you in with a simple question: How well do we really know the people we love? Eighteen months after her husband's death, Diana discovers a letter he left behind—a letter that contains a shocking confession and sends her searching for answers about the man she thought she knew. What follows is part mystery, part family drama, and part emotional journey through grief, secrets, and forgiveness. What

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jul 81 min read


Under Water
Under Water by Tara Menon is a beautifully written story about friendship, grief, and the way certain moments can stay with us forever. The story follows Marissa as she reflects on her childhood friendship with Arielle and the lasting impact of surviving the 2004 tsunami. It's an emotional read that takes its time, focusing more on the characters and their experiences than on a fast-moving plot. What I loved most about this book was the relationship between Marissa and Ariell

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jul 71 min read


Swimming At Night
Swimming at Night by Lucy Clarke is one of those books that completely transports you to another place. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Australia, it combines family drama, mystery, and emotion into a story that kept me turning the pages. The story follows sisters Katie and Mia after the sudden death of their mother. When they discover clues that suggest their mother may have been hiding secrets about her past, they set out to uncover the truth. What follows is a journe

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jul 61 min read


One Dark Summer
One Dark Summer isn't packed with nonstop action or shocking twists on every page, but it completely pulled me into the story and kept me wanting to know what really happened. The story moves between the past and present, uncovering long-buried secrets and the fallout from one life-changing summer. I loved how the mystery unfolded piece by piece. Just when I thought I had a handle on what was going on, another layer was revealed. What really worked for me was the atmosphere.

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jul 51 min read


Grown
Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson is one of those books that makes you uncomfortable in the best possible way. I went into it expecting a compelling YA story, but it ended up being so much more. It's emotional, heartbreaking, and honestly pretty hard to put down. The story follows Enchanted Jones, a talented teenager who gets noticed by a famous music producer. What starts out feeling like a dream come true slowly turns into something much darker as she finds herself trapped in a r

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jul 41 min read


Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guests
Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guests was a book that completely pulled me in with its unique premise. Seven strangers attend a dinner party and leave with cards predicting the age they'll die. It sounds strange enough on its own, but when the predictions start coming true, things quickly take a dark turn. I had a lot of fun with this one. It has that classic mystery feel where everyone seems to be hiding something, and no one can really be trusted. As the story unfolds,

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jul 31 min read


The Widow
The Widow is one of those psychological thrillers that pulls you in right from the start and keeps you questioning everything you think you know. The story centers on Jean Taylor, whose husband was the prime suspect in the disappearance of a young girl. After his death, everyone wants to know the same thing: how much did Jean really know? What I enjoyed most about this book was the way Fiona Barton slowly reveals the truth. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, inc

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jul 21 min read


The Stolen Breath
Her Stolen Breath by L.G. Davis is the kind of psychological thriller that keeps you questioning everything and everyone. From the very beginning, there's a sense that something isn't right, and that feeling only grows stronger as the story unfolds. I was pulled in by the suspense and the constant uncertainty about who could be trusted. The author does a great job of building tension, dropping just enough clues to keep you guessing while still managing to throw in a few surpr

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jul 11 min read


Good People
Good People by Patmeena Sabit is one of those books that sneaks up on you. It starts with the tragic death of Zorah Sharaf, the daughter of a well-known Afghan American family, but it quickly becomes about so much more than just figuring out what happened. What I really liked about this book was how it showed the story from so many different perspectives. Every character seems to have their own version of the truth, and just when I thought I had things figured out, another pi

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jun 301 min read


Land
Maggie O'Farrell's Land is a beautifully written story that feels quiet on the surface but carries a lot of emotional weight. As with many of O'Farrell's books, the strength isn't in dramatic twists or fast-paced action—it's in the characters, their relationships, and the moments that shape their lives. What I enjoyed most was O'Farrell's ability to make ordinary moments feel significant. Her writing is vivid and atmospheric, pulling you into the setting and making you feel c

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jun 291 min read


The Promise
The Promise by Michelle Vernal is a heartfelt dual-timeline story that blends historical fiction, family secrets, and second chances into a really engaging read. The story begins when backpacker Isabel witnesses a tragic accident in New Zealand and promises a dying woman that she'll find someone named Constance and deliver a message. That promise sets off a journey that uncovers a long-buried story stretching back to World War II. What I enjoyed most was how the past and pres

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jun 281 min read


Every Falling Star
Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee is a powerful and eye-opening memoir that gives readers a rare glimpse into life inside North Korea. Sungju begins by sharing memories of a relatively happy childhood, but everything changes when famine and political decisions force his family into poverty. Eventually separated from his parents, he finds himself living on the streets, where survival becomes a daily battle. What makes this book so compelling is Sungju's honesty. He doesn't hold

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jun 271 min read


Pucking Sweet
Pucking Sweet was such a fun read. I went in expecting a steamy hockey romance, and while it definitely delivers on that front, I was surprised by how much heart it had too. Poppy, Lukas, and Colton are all wonderfully flawed characters, and I found myself completely invested in their journey from the very beginning. What I loved most was how natural the relationships felt. The chemistry is undeniable, but the story also takes the time to build trust, friendship, and real emo

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jun 261 min read


Summer Rental
Summer Rental was a really enjoyable read that had a lot more going on than I expected. What starts out feeling like a relaxing summer getaway quickly turns into a story full of family drama, secrets, and plenty of surprises. I really liked how messy and realistic the characters felt. Nobody was perfect, which made them easy to connect with. The beach-town setting gave the book that perfect summer vibe, but there was always something bubbling under the surface that kept me wa

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jun 251 min read


The Great Alone
Set in the wild and unforgiving landscape of Alaska in the 1970s, this story follows Leni and her parents as they try to start over in a place that promises freedom but demands survival. The setting feels almost like its own character—beautiful, isolated, and sometimes downright terrifying. What really pulled me in was the emotional depth of the story. Hannah doesn't shy away from difficult topics, and watching Leni navigate family turmoil, first love, and the struggle to fin

Lesley Goldthorpe
Jun 241 min read
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