After years of working as a personal finance blogger and coach, Jillian Johnsrud knows both the joys of creating content online and the dark side: trolls and critics. In Fire the Haters, Johnsrud helps creatives learn to set boundaries, silence their inner critic, and know how to handle online criticism.

First let me say, that having blogged for years, I can tell you that the advice in Fire the Haters is spot on. Unfortunately, Johnsrud under-utilized the power of stories to illustrate how her advice can be applied in real life, which would have fully rounded out this very short read (under 200 pages).

As it is, Fire the Haters would be an excellent book to hand someone in the midst of such an online crisis. Nothing can truly prepare you for the pain and anger you feel the first time you are attacked online, but advice like this can help you know how to appropriately react, for it does get easier with practice.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rogue therapist Avery Chambers promises that she can fix any problem in 10 sessions with her unconventional methods that have stripped her of her license. After cheating on her husband, Marissa Bishop is willing to do anything to save her marriage to Matthew. As Avery looks deeper into the seemingly perfect couple, she finds that there is much more going on than any of them suspect. With a compelling story and plenty of twists to keep you guessing, fans of the thriller duo will love their new psychological thriller. 

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It should be the golden years for Stan and Joy Delaney now that they've sold their tennis academy and settled into retirement, so why aren't they happy? When they welcome a bleeding stranger into their home, her arrival begins a cascade of events. Now Joy is missing, and the four grown Delaney children wonder if their father might have done it.

I adored Liane Moriarty's latest domestic thriller. I was completely invested in the complicated relationships between the Delaney family members and did not see the big twist coming. However, I can understand why Apples Never Fall is getting mixed reviews. At almost 500 pages, the story is longer than it needed to be, especially the excessive denouement, and if you don't like the twist or the characters, you'll feel like you wasted a big chunk of your time.

Tully and Rachel find themselves thrown for a loop when their father announces he is divorcing their mother with dementia and marrying a woman younger than both of them. As they dig deeper into Heather's secrets and confront their own issues, comments from their mother make them suspect that their parents' marriage may not have been as idyllic as they thought. Knowing the wedding will end in blood, The Younger Wife is an addictive domestic thriller that keeps you engaged as you play amateur detective, judging the reliability of the narrators and deciding who you think is guilty. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

On the order of the Emperor, Paul Atreides, the heir apparent of the House of Atreides, and his family take control of the desert planet Arrakis, the source of the most sought-after commodity in the galaxy. But power like that breeds many enemies who will stop at nothing to take over Arrakis. Mixing politics, religion, and mysticism with a whole lot of adventure, Dune is a class of science fiction all its own, sending you on an epic journey in this renowned science fiction novel.

I first read my sci fi loving dad's battery paperback copy of Dune as a teenager and had forgotten so much of the story that I rushed to reread the book before I saw the film.

Upon rereading the novel, I was as captivated as ever by the complicated political intrigue throughout the story. However, whether you like the book or not will depend on how well you enjoy the heavy dose of mysticism and philosophy that slows down the plot and gives it such a unique feel. 

Bestselling poet Laurie Halse Anderson writes her memoir in free verse in this powerful tale of surviving sexual assault. Twenty years after writing the fictional story Speak, Anderson is stunned at how little has changed. Sharing deeply personal stories, Shout is perfect for the "Me Too" era. I'm not a fan of poetry, but listening to the audiobook made the poems come alive - adding pauses and inflections.

In 1978, Vi and Eric live with their grandmother, Dr. Helen Hildreth, who runs a psychiatric treatment facility next door to their home. When their grandmother brings home a girl from the facility to be their new sister. As Vi and Eric teach her all about monsters, Vi begins to question their grandmother's methods. Meanwhile, in the present day, a podcaster investigates a child abduction and monster sighting in a small town, thinking it's connected to her long-lost sister.

In true McMahon fashion, The Children on the Hill blends horror with deep family relationships that makes for a particularly spooky read. I struggled with the monster angle. I know McMahon was connecting with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but I much preferred her previous novels that were about ghosts.

I will admit the twist was well done, but I didn't like that McMahon tied up all the loose ends instead of leaving you with an eerie open ending. Nitpicky, I know. Still, I think McMahon's fan will be satisfied with The Children on the Hill. If you haven't read McMahon yet, you are missing out.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Gallery/Scout Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Looking for more than a hookup, Wren thinks she's found her soulmate when she meets Adam on a dating app. After months together, Wren is shocked when Adam ghosts her and a private investigator shows up with shocking claims. The more Wren digs into Adam's true identity, the more obsessive she becomes, blurring the lines between predator and prey.

Last Girl Ghosted is a dark thriller that starts out strong but loses its way as the improbably back story comes into play. Still, it's an entertaining read for anyone who likes Lisa Jewell or Gillian Flynn.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

As an end-of-life doula, Nova's job is to help the terminally ill cope with their impending death. When Mason Shaylor, an up-and-coming indie singer-songwriter, comes in asking for help to say goodbye after a deteriorating condition that has already caused him to lose his ability to play the guitar. Months later, Mason's mom comes in accusing Nova of assisting Mason's suicide after he dies in a car accident, Nova questions everything she thought she knew about a patient she had become extremely close to.

The Next Thing You Know is a top-level tearjerker, expertly drawing you into the characters and perfectly timing revelations to emotionally wrench you. Reminiscent of Me Before You, Strawser's novel makes you think about how to cope when life as we know it ends. A must-read for anyone who enjoys women's fiction, The Next Thing You Know is sure to make waves in 2022. Just make sure you have a box of tissues handy because I guarantee you will need them.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What would you do if you noticed your neighbors suddenly disappearing? A quiet old maid living with her older sister and elderly father, Corrie ten Boom knew that she had to act. Her family joined the Dutch Underground and built a secret room to hide Jews within, for which they were to pay the ultimate price.

I could have listened to the audiobook narration of The Hiding Place all day, as entranced as I was by the gentle life of a clockmaker's daughter even before the war comes into play. However, Corrie ten Boom's account really becomes heartrending when she describes how her faith sustained her during her year in prison. 

One thing that fascinates me about Holocaust memoirs is how much our mindset shapes our experiences, with each account adding value in its own way. The Hiding Place takes a very Christian angle by focusing on finding God in our trials, which is similar to Viktor Frankl's account of finding purpose in Man's Search for Meaning. Both stand in stark contrast to the unapologetically candid account in Elie Wiesel's Night.