I’ll just start by saying that while this is the sixth book in the Summersweet Island series it could be read as a standalone BUT I’ll tell you why that’s a bad idea. This series is one of my faves when I want to legitimately laugh out loud, every book is hilarious and I’ve become super attached to each couple. So reading them all in order provides you with the ultimate experience so I definitely recommend all six books. They’re seriously so so good! 

It’s always awesome to be reunited with the residents of the island and they’re every bit as outrageous and silly as ever. I’ve been super curious about Ryan for awhile now and he was the absolute cutest, sweetest most adorable hero ever and he may have even edged Bohdi out for my favorite male islander now. Danny was also awesome and I loved how she brought Ryan out of his shell and brought out a new side to him while still very much appreciating his true self. I always say I’ll pace myself when I read one of these books but I lied again and finished in a day. Sigh. I am really hoping the next book follows Spencer and Melanie and will be counting down the days until I’m back on the island.

I gotta start by saying this book will not be for everyone, it’s dark y’all and if there’s a content warning I can just about guarantee you’ll find it in this one. BUT if you’re ok with dark and disturbing this one fucked me up in the best possible way. It had a cult which never gets old to me, podcast excerpts, which again, GIMME and old and new cases that may be connected. I really don’t want to say much more but there were such strong and powerful themes about women and feminism and power that really stuck with me. Also misogyny, patriarchy and gender roles, this entertains and it makes you think and at times it’s super uncomfortable but I still couldn’t put it down. It was also twisty and tense and just really, really good. 

I gotta start by saying this book will not be for everyone, it’s dark y’all and if there’s a content warning I can just about guarantee you’ll find it in this one. BUT if you’re ok with dark and disturbing this one fucked me up in the best possible way. It had a cult which never gets old to me, podcast excerpts, which again, GIMME and old and new cases that may be connected. I really don’t want to say much more but there were such strong and powerful themes about women and feminism and power that really stuck with me. Also misogyny, patriarchy and gender roles, this entertains and it makes you think and at times it’s super uncomfortable but I still couldn’t put it down. It was also twisty and tense and just really, really good. 

One thing that this author duo does really well is they write a gripping premise that pulls you in immediately and they keep you on the edge of your seat as they hop back and forth between points of view and this was no exception. You also have not only one, but two dead bodies and another that may hit survive so there is a ton going on here right off of the bat. The pacing was fast and furious and most of the chapters were short and ended with more questions than answers which is always a tactic I enjoy. As with their prior books you get the perspectives of two cops, Silvestri and Walcott and I always like that police procedural angle. This had plenty of drama between all three couples as well as the residents of their exclusive neighborhood and made for a pretty delicious and wicked summer read. A tad over the top? Absolutely but I like a bit of that in a summer thriller.

I really loved the premise of this one with Cassie going from photographer to model and I adored the fact that she was a plus sized Black woman as well. The author did a great job sharing Cassie’s experiences as not only a woman in the industry but as a Black woman and I enjoyed Cassie’s transformation from a sometimes doormat to a strong woman who finally stands up for herself and gets the life she wants and deserves. This one brought some heat too, Reid and Cassie taking lingerie pictures made for some sexy foreplay and their chemistry was hot. Cassie and Reid both have some friends that made up a fun supporting cast too, so overall a well balanced read. I thought this was funny, sexy and a great representation for body positivity.

I absolutely love a domestic thriller that is dramatic and maybe even a little over the top in a soap opera kind of way and this one delivered on all fronts! There was lots of unreliability, seriously as it flipped back and forth between Jo and Abi’s perspective I had no idea who was telling the truth or lying. Maybe both? Such a mindfuck in the best way. I sped through this really fast because I couldn’t stop reading, give me all the drama and I’m entertained. It was juicy and surprising and while I did figure out one twist only right before it happened it didn’t bother me in the slightest because this was the best popcorn thriller I’ve read in awhile! Definitely would be ideal to read by the pool this summer. 

Based on the adorable cover and synopsis I assumed this would be a lighthearted read and it was at times, but it also had some heavier aspects as well that I’ll get into later. I know you can never tell how steamy a romance will be based off those two alone either but this one gets spicy and the chemistry between Aja and Walker was apparent from their first encounter. I believed in their relationship and I even believed in their messy issues, both separately and together. I was definitely rooting for them, HARD even when they were both making mistakes. 

Maybe it’s just the romances I’ve been reading lately but there seems to be a new trend of exploring mental health issues in quite a few romances lately and this is one trend I can get behind. This one has both main characters dealing with anxiety disorders and it’s a big part of the story, so a heads up if that may be a trigger for you. If it’s not, I thought the author did a really great job of exploring anxiety and balancing the heavy with the light. The audio was solid and Angel Pean did a great job bringing Aja and Walker to life.

I am such a sucker for books about despicable rich parents behaving abhorrently so the description was of this sounded right up my alley. I actually enjoy reading about unlikable characters and I don’t think there was a single truly likable character here. That’s not to say the characters weren’t well developed because they were, the author takes an interesting look at mothers who will stoop to low levels for their children and they don’t care who they hurt in the process. 

My experience reading this book was odd, I was always definitely interested in seeing where things were headed but I did feel it get a little dragged on at times. By the time I finished I could clearly understand the authors intention though and it all made more sense for me. I really had no idea how things would end and I was surprised which is always nice. Overall I mostly enjoyed this dark and dramatic read.

The Jigsaw Man was a great introduction to the series and an impressive debut. I’m the somewhat rare case where I’m going to read a police procedural I can be pretty picky. I want really well developed characters, a shocking case and lots of dark moments. This had all that and more for me, a twisty plot and lots of suspense too. 

The Binding Room had all the strong and compelling elements I loved in the first book as well as an original new plot. I feel like I’m this book I learned even more about Anjelica but it’s still only the first of many layers to come in the future. It kept me on my toes again as well, I didn’t see anything coming ahead of time and it was so gritty and dark, I was so into it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫