Broken County is a stunning US debut that had me hooked from beginning to end. Clare Leslie Hall has established herself as an auto-read author for me with just one book, because this one has everything. Broken Country is the story of Beth and the two men she loves. Stay with me here, I'm not a big fan of love triangles either. It also has a mystery, personal secrets, and compelling character development. 

This book is beautifully written and perfectly paced for a literary drama. Some chapters are from "before," some from 1968, and some from "the trial." Hall slowly reveals Beth's heartbreaking story and uses each of these timelines so effectively to build character depth and propel the story forward. 

I'd recommend going into this one without much knowledge; dive in and get to know these characters.  If you enjoyed Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson or Mercury by Amy Jo Burns, I think this is an excellent pick for you. This book wowed me and had me in tears. 

The Broposal by Sonora Reyes marks their foray into New Adult, after publishing two Young Adult novels. Reyes knocked it out of the park again, so if you've loved The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School or The Luis Ortega Survival Club then I'm sure this one is for you. 

Based on the title, you are right to assume that this romance novel is for fans of the fake marriage trope. But this book is so much more than that, and it covers some heavy topics. The best friends Han and Kenny have been together since they were kids, but now as young adults the world is throwing a lot of challenges at them. This story contains themes of abusive relationships, citizenship issues, and exploring sexuality. Reyes handles each topic with love, respect, and care. 

Told in alternating perspectives, I loved being in the head of both Han and Kenny. After the first twenty percent and establishing each of the characters, I couldn't put this down. It's a slow burn, and there is quite the pay off with some spice towards the end. If you're in it for the emotional connection in romance books, this one delivers in spades. 

I will read everything Sonora Reyes writes and I hope you will too. 

This Book Will Bury Me delivers true crime vibes, mystery and suspense, as well as a true thriller ending. I enjoyed this book from the start, which added to the fun as I often take a bit to settle into a novel. I have read all of Ashley Winstead's books and I'd compare this most closely to In My Dreams I Hold a Knife. However, the cast of characters is more diverse in age and backgrounds and I found the central characters to be much more likeable. 

After Jane's father dies unexpectedly, she drops out of college and starts looking for an escape from her grief. What Jane finds is an online crime solving community that gives her a found family and a mission, to solve crimes that the cops can't piece together. As Jane falls into a group investigating brutal serial murders on college campuses, things seem to come together and not add up all at the same time. 

I think this will appeal to many readers as it is well paced, tense, and full of consistent reveals. Winstead writes with much less social commentary in this book than some of her more recent titles. If you like a book within a book, found family, true crime, well paced thrillers, or any combination of those this is certainly worth adding to your TBR. 

Good Dirt is a sprawling family drama by Charmaine Wilkerson, the author of the beloved title Black Cake. This book returns with her style of a multi-perspective narrative that spans generations. 

Good Dirt is the story of a Black family in the Northeast United States with a precious heirloom, a large pot crafted by one of their ancestors who was enslaved. When an armed intruder entered the home twenty some years ago, the pot was broken and the eldest child was killed. Now his younger sister must reckon with their past, acknowledge the trauma she faced and that of her family, and try to find love. 

I felt so connected to the characters in this novel, our main character Ebby is a deeply relatable mess. As her life falls apart right when she thinks it is coming together, I read her decisions as realistic and relatable- they were messy, sometimes unwise, and usually the best she could do.  Wilkerson does an excellent job weaving a mystery throughout this family drama that makes the book impossible to put down. 

If you loved Black Cake, you'll almost certainly love this one. I found the pacing to be more even and in my case the characters easier to empathize with. I hope you'll add this to your list if you enjoy literary fiction! 

The Murderess is a compelling true crime novel that fictionalizes one of the most famous female killers of the 20th century. 

Beginning in 1931, Winne Ruth Judd takes a train and with her two trunks. When the trunks are discovered to contain bodies, Judd is long gone. Set in such a different era, this is a fascinating story of how Judd got away with murders for so long. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The perspective shifts contributed well to the character development and even pacing of the plot. 

I think this is a blend of historical, crime, and suspense fiction that will appeal to many readers. 

The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz was a wild ride and such a compelling follow up to her book, The Plot. If you haven't read The Plot, I highly encourage you to do so. This review will contain some spoilers for that book as this is a sequel... joke intended! 

So as this book starts, we have a perspective shift and I loved the character building that this opened up. The main character, Anna Williams-Bonner, is going to get her life in order- even if that means ending others. Determined to protect herself and achieve literary acclaim, Anna is frustrated with the realities of the publishing world. As she manages those waters, other problems come back to haunt her. 

With a similarly unsettling tone, The Sequel hit many of the same notes for me as The Plot and I loved it from beginning to end. As with all of my thriller/mystery reviews, I am keeping this one short so I don't ruin any of the fun along the way for you as a reader. Go get yourself this one! 

Tell Me What You Did is the second book I have read by Carter Wilson. I enjoyed settling back into his writing style which is tense and hard to put down, and keeps the pages turning. This is the story of Poe Webb, a 30 year old podcaster whose show has recently become very successful. Named "Tell Me What You Did," on her show Poe invites criminals to call in and confess their crimes. 

She doesn't guarantee them anything but time to talk, and often her guests are later found because of listener tips to law enforcement. But Poe has a big secret and someone knows. When they turn the tables on Poe, she has to start confessing before it is too late. 

I'm so glad I went into this one without reading much of the synopsis or any reviews. I had a blast and read this so quickly. If you're in the mood for a quick thriller that is full of tension and plays with the podcast, unlikeable MC tropes- this one does all of that and manages to keep it fresh. 

The Moonflowers is a sweeping and emotional historical fiction with elements of the mystery and thriller genres. In the small town of Darren, Kentucky there is a statue of Benjamin Costello. A few generations later, Tig Costello comes to Darren to paint a portrait of her grandfather, the famous Benjamin Costello. But she decides she wants to learn more about him from someone who might know best, a woman named Eloise Price who murdered him fifty years ago. 

Told through stories from Eloise, we learn of all the challenges women faced in small town Kentucky fifty years ago and how many of them were impacted by Benjamin Costello. Slowly Tig starts to piece together a puzzle that tells a different story about her grandfather and a different story than many believe about Eloise Price. 

I think this will appeal to those who loved Take My Hand and The Last Carolina Girl, although it is about a very different aspect of history. The tension and spirit of the women in this story will resonate in related way. 

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing for this ALC. Hadley Leggett’s debut novel is a deeply moving story of motherhood that centers 3 very different women. Hannah has lost her husband and made some questionable choices. Julie has gone through a recent break up and longs to be a mother, so she pursues foster parenting. And Elaine is Hannah’s not so emotionally healthy mother and a powerhouse, work focused lawyer. 

When events and circumstances drive these women together and apart, almost simultaneously, Leggett creates a deeply relatable story of what motherhood demands from us and what it really takes to be a “good mom.” Love, love, love. This is perfect for fans of Laurie Frankel.