People to Follow is a fast-paced and compulsive thriller. A group of influencers are chosen to travel to a remote island to film a show about unplugging from devices. But when they arrive, there’s no film crew waiting. The influencers receive watches to communicate with their mysterious Sponsor. All of the influencers have secret connections between each other, but are motivated to keep up appearances for the show. A deadly accident occurs and it becomes clear that something about the show isn’t right. When the pretense of the show starts evaporating, the influencers must work together to discover the real reason they're on the island. 

People to Follow feels like a summer blockbuster thriller. It’s fun and fast-paced, but there are some twists you can definitely see coming. That said, I had a very hard time putting this book down! There’s always another twist or reveal that adds even more tension. All of the characters are morally gray and have buried secrets that are coming back to haunt them. Kira and Logan were my favorite characters, as they felt more personable than some of the other influencers. Worley creates a thrilling mystery while inviting reflection on influencer culture and the power of stories- including the stories we tell ourselves. Readers who enjoy You Can Trust Me (Wendy Heard), locked-room thrillers, and And Then There Were None (Agatha Christie) should check out People to Follow. 

Thank you to Olivia Worley, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 
 

Thank You for Sharing is a witty second-chance romance following Liyah and Daniel. Set in Chicago, Liyah is a junior curator at the Field Museum. Daniel is a marketing consultant hired to help bring more people to the museum. When they meet, both are transported back to a summer camp romance gone wrong.  Daniel tries to make it up to Liyah and in the process they form a tight-knit friend group where they can vent about work and support each other. As Liyah and Daniel re-build their friendship, will they be able to address the romantic feelings between them? 

I loved Liyah and Daniel’s romance! Liyah is such a strong character who accepts no excuses and is passionate about her work. Daniel is such a sweetheart and still dealing with grief over the death of a parent. It was heartwarming how Liyah supported him as he processed his grief. Daniel and Liyah also form a beautiful connection over being Jewish people of color. I couldn't stop laughing about Daniel's love for the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) and Liyah's pride about having the furcula (wishbone) of Sue the T. Rex. 

One of my favorite parts was the fantastic side characters like Liyah’s best friend Neen, Daniel’s friend Jordan, and Liyah’s work friend Siobhan. The ensemble cast really provided humor and a space for Liyah and Daniel to re-connect. There is inclusive LGBTQ+ rep: I interpreted Liyah as bi and Neen as non-binary (but those labels are not explicitly used). I didn’t love how long it took Liyah to forgive Daniel about the summer camp incident, at a certain point it started to feel repetitive. I appreciated that through therapy, Liyah was able to acknowledge that the issue was about more than the summer camp incident itself. 

Thank You for Sharing is a hilarious and heartfelt second-chance romance. I was very impressed with Rachel Runya Katz’s debut and look forward to reading what they write next! Readers who enjoy Jodie Slaughter, Rebekah Weatherspoon, and Talia Hibbert will love Thank You for Sharing! 

Thank you to Rachel Runya Katz, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

I was eagerly waiting for The Long Game and it did not disappoint! This is my favorite book yet from Elena Armas. When Adalyn Reyes is exiled from her beloved soccer job, she is sent to work towards redemption in rural North Carolina. Helping a soccer team succeed doesn’t sound so bad until she realizes the team’s average age is six. Enter grumpy and reclusive Coach Cam, coerced into helping the team by the friendly mayor. Adalyn immediately recognizes him as a soccer star and Adalyn and Cam instantly dislike each other. Can they work together to help the team succeed or is the team’s last hope already gone? 

The Long Game was such a fun and sweet romance! I immediately preordered a hard copy after finishing this ARC. Cam is swoonworthy and readers who enjoy protective heroes will love him. Cam and Adalyn start off very against each other (grump x grump) and I loved how their relationship grew and evolved. Adalyn’s personal journey was also excellent to see- she learns to find value in herself and outside of her job. Armas’ dialogue is hilarious and the situations that Cam and Adalyn find themselves in use all the best tropes, especially forced proximity. The crew of girls on the soccer team and the many animals, from Brandy the goat to Cam’s cats, were very cute. The town itself felt warm and welcoming, so I hope there are more stories to come in this world. 

Readers who enjoyed Mariana Zapata (The Wall of Winnipeg & Me), Chloe Liese (Bergman Brothers), and Ted Lasso will love The Long Game. If you like enemies-to-lovers, grumpy athletes, a multitude of cute animals, and found family then you need to read this book! 

 Thank you so much to Elena Armas, Atria Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Scenes of the Crime drew me in with the dark premise of a girl gone missing without a trace. What happened to Vanessa? After disappearing one night and an extensive search, Vanessa is presumed dead. Years later, writer Emily and her crew of friends from college reunite at the winery where Vanessa was last seen alive. But all of the women hold secrets about Vanessa and their last moments with her. When ominous things start happening, will Emily be able to discover what truly happened to Vanessa? 

Scenes of the Crime was an interesting thriller that had a kaleidoscope of a mystery at its heart. The format of using a script felt like a good choice, though at times it was hard to tell what was fact and what was the script angle (as intended, I’m sure!). My favorite character was Emily; I liked learning about her job and what she remembers about her time with Vanessa. All of the women are morally gray and contain layers of secrets. Brittany was villainous in a fun way, while Paige and Lydia revealed their true natures over time. None of them felt particularly likable to me, but this worked in creating an atmosphere where no character is fully trustworthy (not even Emily). The setting was creepy and isolating, adding to a sense of urgency when clues about Vanessa start showing up. Overall I liked the resolution, though at first it took some time to process. Scenes of the Crime is a bingeable and enjoyable mystery featuring a missing girl, an isolated location, and morally gray characters.     

Thank you to Jilly Gagnon, Bantam, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Effy Sayre wanted to be in the literature college, but they have never admitted a woman before. Settling for architecture, Effy is floating and a step away from drowning in despair. When she sees an ad to redesign the estate of her favorite deceased author, she leaps at the chance even though she is still a student. To her shock, she is invited to the crumbling cliffside of Hiraeth Manor. There she meets the author’s strange son and an intrepid scholar named Preston with ulterior motives. Effy will need to decide whether her sight can be relied on and whether she can trust Preston as she navigates the dark secrets of Hiraeth Manor. 

I had chills in the best way while reading this book. I really enjoyed the mystery that slowly unraveled as Preston and Effy tried to uncover if Myrddin was the true author or whether he had plagiarized. The pacing was impeccable! I was on the edge of my seat and couldn’t put it down. The world-building about fairy stories and the Fairy King were very compelling. I was struck by the beautiful and deadly ways that water imagery was used. Reid writes captivatingly about women who are labeled mentally ill, the power of stories, what it means to save yourself, and how women can defeat monsters in all forms. 

Effy is one of my favorite characters! Effy is someone who has been told she’s difficult, too sensitive, and that the things she sees and believes mean she’s mentally ill. I loved seeing her character growth and journey as she learns to trust in herself. Preston and Effy have such a sweet romance! I absolutely loved how Preston always believed Effy even when he didn’t have full understanding yet. Readers who enjoyed Erin A. Craig (House of Salt and Sorrows), Melissa Albert (The Hazel Wood), and Rebecca Ross (Divine Rivals) would love this book. I can’t wait to see what Ava Reid writes next! 

Thank you so much to Ava Reid, Harper Audio, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.