This is my 2nd Sally Hepworth book and unfortunately I think we just don’t vibe well. I found the premise interesting but for the entire the middle section I just tuned out. The ending was interesting but I didn’t like the pretty bow put on it. 
I did enjoy the narration. 

It’s not you, it’s me. 


2.5

I’m a huge fan of Tarryn Fisher’s creepy thrillers. The Wives is the book the got me out of a five year reading slump and brought me to where I am now in my reading. So when I saw this book I was so excited! She did not disappoint, of course. 

Our MC Iris watched her twin sister being kidnapped right in front of her and believes that she was then trafficked and killed. She is met with lackluster support from the police department and makes it her mission to find out what happened, eventually working her way to an internship on Shoal Island which houses a prison for the criminally insane. Iris believes that her sister’s killer is imprisoned there. 

The first 25% had me hooked. I loved getting the twins’ backstory and trying to figure out what happened. The final 20% was INSANE. A little unrealistic but still incredible and worthwhile. The middle was a sloooooooow burn. But, when I finished and knowing the twists going back over the slow parts I realized all the Easter eggs that were dropped so it was still worth it. 

3.5

Thank you to Graydon House, HTP, and Tarryn Fisher for the review copy. These thoughts are my own. 

Mazey Eddings is the queen of writing neurodivergent characters. She never fails. I loved the mental health yep and I feel like these characters rang very true. 

What didn’t work as well for me here was the love story. I seemed a bit contrived. Also, the whole book is centered around the flowers but there seemed to be no resolution here. 

Ellie Gossage did a fabulous job with the narration and I truly got a sense of who the characters were based on her embodiment of them. 

Mazey will continue to be an auto read author for me, this one just fell a bit short.

☀️Just For the Summer☀️

Abby Jimenez is an auto-buy author for me (I ended up with three copies of this one!) I know to expect an adorably cute but heartbreaking story. And, of course, Abby didn’t disappoint. 

In JFTS, we have a headstrong FMC in Emma, but she’s got two suitcases full of issues. And as we’ve come to expect, our MMC, Justin, is your next book boyfriend- witty, tender hearted, and the ultimate golden retriever. 

Their meet-cute is hilarious and Justin’s situation is so inventive. The premise was so interesting. And the way we always love the side characters… Maddy is the best friend we all want in life. There are Easter eggs everywhere, so I strongly suggest reading the POYW series in order, but it’s not necessary. 

Now the wait begins for the next book… 😬

Thank you Forever, especially Estelle and Dana for wading through all the arc apps!, and Abby Jimenez for the review copy. These thoughts are my own.