emmreadsbooks's Reviews (1.28k)

This was a delightfully sinful thriller focusing on the relationships between 3 trophy wives. They live it up in the lap of luxury and the character dynamics were quite interesting. Some of the plot was a bit questionable at times, but I was willing to let it go in the spirit of outrageousness. If you're looking for a short suburban suspense with a light amount of thrills, this is for you.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This is an extraordinary collection of short stories examining queerness. While some of the stories were a bit out of my league, I quite enjoyed Sarahland and Exorcism, or Eating my Twin. They were well-written, utterly fantastical, and I'd recommend it for anyone who wants a quick and weird read.

Don't mind me, just over here SCREAMING at that epilogue. This was one of the first books that I requested (and was denied for) on NetGalley, so it's a wonder that it took me so long to get around to reading it once it was released. But man was it worth the wait! I loved following Finlay's bumbling as she finds herself being hired as a hitwoman and everything that ensued. The tension was palpable and the heat was HOT. This is a beautiful mystery novel with just a hint of thrills to keep me wanting more.

This is a gorgeous description of a modern relationship, tied in with discourses on creativity, body image, and mental health. As a huge Welcome to Night Vale fan, I knew that I wanted to read it and I wasn't let down. To be clear, this is a memoir about Joseph and Meg's relationship over the years (but there's still some fun Night Vale history nuggets in there too). Their respective voices come through in the alternating chapters and it was honestly a joy to read.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I really enjoyed this book - the thrills kept me engaged, I enjoyed seeing Tara more, and the court procedural was dynamic as always. This series is naturally expanding to be an ensemble cast rather than just focusing on Jessica Yardley, something I don't see much in thrillers. However I did predict some parts of the book, specifically the big final twist, and I felt that it didn't add much to the book. Regardless, this is a great twisty thriller with procedural elements that I'd still recommend evne if you haven't read the first.

Full disclosure, the ending is what got me. This book focuses far more on the court procedural than the 2 previous books, so if that's not your thing you may not enjoy it. However we get to follow the dynamic Dylan Aster as he takes on a case where the client wants to be found guilty. The dynamics there were excellent and constantly had me guessing.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I absolutely loved this homage to MMORPGs and technology, and Marie Lu's writing only made it better. Personally I would've preferred a little more information on how the tech works and how we came to this dystopian society, but man was it cool! The descriptions of the gameplay were stellar and any book that makes a Leeroy Jenkins joke is one for me! I did see several of the twists coming, but I'm so ready to read the next book.

This is yet another delectable romance from Lyssa Kay Adams, focused on my favorite club member Vlad! Watching him and Elena work out their marital strife while reading excerpts from The Promise was so beautiful. They're both such softies and the communication was far better than in most romcoms. And as usual, the subplot is amazing! I'd probably read an entire series about the Russian, but I await Colton's tale.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I was a bit wary of this book at first, but it really picks up. Once I was halfway through, I didn't want to put it down. This is a perfect example of a novel that could be perfectly trashy, but redeems itself through a carefully crafted plot and compelling characters who subvert expectations. I loved how our female characters grew into themselves. Fair warning, this book does discuss topics like substance abuse, rape and sexual abuse, and power imbalance in industry. But they're handled in ways that I found caring, and not used for merely a plot point. Overall this is a fantastic beach read!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I absolutely loved the audiobook for this novel, but I struggled a bit with the length. This is a sapphic horror story with elements of gore, reminiscent of The Blair Witch Project. The story didn't take itself too seriously which was enjoyable, but I found myself getting lost in the constant switches of timeline and repetitive nature.