reading_under_covers's Reviews (1.61k)

I’m glad this book exists as a nice wrap-up for all of the characters we’ve come to know and love, but I found the plot and the whys to feel messy at times.

Two women, Pamela Schumacher and Tina Cannon cross paths and timelines in their search for a killer who relentlessly took their friends’ lives. Inspired by a real-life serial killer case, this book gives voice to the victims whose lives were cut too short.

BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN by Jessica Knoll is a heart-wrenching book about fighting for justice and giving victims their names back.

I found this one exceptionally hard to get through based solely on the fact that I’m very familiar with the real case this is based on, and it’s difficult to dive into such a brutal book while getting to know and fall in love with the characters.

This book was intriguing to read, though I did have a hard time discerning fact from fiction and the POVs occasionally felt a tad too similar for me to be able to keep them apart.

This is a story that definitely requires the reader to be in the right headspace, but one I’d recommend for anyone interested in true crime!

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Marysue Rucci Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: September 19

On a college campus bracing for a snow storm, five graduate assistants are in the process of running a psychological study to determine the factors that would lead someone to lie. After a very heated situation with one of their test subjects, one of the graduate students is found murdered. As the storm rolls in and secrets begin to unravel, the local PD find themselves up against a ticking clock and a group of people trained to deceive.

THIS IS HOW WE END THINGS is my first read by R.J. Jacobs and I quite enjoyed it!

The academic setting was superb and the impending storm created such a nice atmosphere. I loved the jumping perspectives and I liked getting to know this cast of characters!

However, the psychology aspect of the story wasn’t fleshed out as much as I wanted it to be (and even felt random at times) and the reveal of the killer had me hoping for more.

Overall, a fun dark academia thriller that I would recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: September 12

Noelle knows horror. She even hosts a popular horror movie club and, with it being its one year anniversary, she wants to do something special, so she plans an exclusive Halloween party that is sure to garner those instagram likes. However, things take a turn at the party when a party clown shows up with their own vendetta.

THERE’S NO WAY I’D DIE FIRST by Lisa Springer was truly such a fun debut!

This book pays homage to all of the classic horror films, with each chapter heading quoting a movie and so many other references made throughout!

The beginning of the book was the strongest for me, but it quickly slipped into being a bit of a cheesy cliche - both with the writing and the wild murders, and also became tiring after a bit because we’ve got a lot of characters to chop through 🔪

The ultimate motive behind the killings was also predictable and, despite this book being hugely about diversity, it was hard to get that sense when every character was rich af.

Definitely a book I’d recommend for all you slasher fans looking for a fun read this spooky season!

Thanks to NetGalley, Delacorte Press, and Random House Children’s for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: September 5

Margaret and Hal have dreamed of being homeowners all of their lives when they manage to get a crazy deal on an old Victorian home…only, it’s full of ghosts. Every September it gets especially bad until Hal up and leaves. Margaret’s adult daughter makes a visit to the home for the first time after this and things get a bit wild.

THE SEPTEMBER HOUSE by Carissa Orlando is a fantastic debut!

This book was about so much more than the spooky (and downright gross) shit, and delved so beautifully into the relationships between both the living and the dead.

I absolutely loved Margaret as a character (even if she did make me roll my eyes on occasion) and just had such a fun time with this book!

Twisting horror and humor at the same time, this will make for the perfect read this fall!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: September 5

Adam is new to the stay-at-home-dad life and, as his relationship with his wife starts to unravel, he becomes obsessed with his neighbor Ali across the street. One night, through his window he sees something that makes him question if Ali might be in danger and starts to seek out answers.

Ooooof, THE NEIGHBORS WE WANT by Tim Lane was not the story we (I) want 🙃

Rereading the synopsis after reading this book made me question who was responsible for hooking me into this weird, dysfunctional book with that blurb!

This one is very much a domestic suspense (hold the suspense) with a lot of odd sexual encounters and relationships that happen and are then never explained.

I didn’t feel any connection to the characters and am, overall, feeling very hung up on the story and the elements that came into play.

This one, unfortunately, didn’t do a whole lot for me, but thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me a chance to read this one early!

Publication Date: September 5

What a human!!!

An interesting read after recently going to the Cloisters, but ultimately rather dull and tedious.