reading_under_covers's Reviews (1.61k)

I found this one to be sooo boring. It felt like the author threw elements into this book just to say she did it, without them actually having any point to the plot.  

I always get nervous when books are like “it’s like And Then There Were None” because that’s a high standard, my dude!! And if you’ve read ATTWN, odds are, you’ll already know how the book will unfold.

HOWEVER, I didn’t mind this one. I wasn’t completely sold on the whodunnit, and did find it hard to care about a lot of the characters, but the setting and the EIGHTY CLOCKS!!! *chefs kiss*

Dios mío

So much of this book felt like Alicia Thompson was speaking to my SOUL. Obviously, all of the true crime references were fantastic (and in a rom com no less!), the very specific reference to The Office, mentions of Selling Sunset, cats, Chvrches, and THE LIBRARY!! And to top it off, Thompson specifically mentions “the part in the Anna Sun music video when everyone starts dancing” in her acknowledgments, LIKE, COME ON!

I wasn’t full swayed by the romance in this one (hence the 4 stars), and I loaaaathe when the shy male lead ends up being a dirty talker in bed, BUT every other relationship in this book felt very real and sincere!

A cozy mystery I actually really enjoyed and COULD NOT put down!

It’s giving Amelia Bedelia vibes, but adult, and there was just something so real about the main character Molly the maid.

The ending was a bit chaotic, but offered up some really great characters to fall in love with. 

Don’t know why I’m so surprised this made me cry, but there ya have it.

A great book dealing with grief (for both the living and the dead) and how it’s never too late to turn your life around.

Being born and raised in Wisconsin and then living in Milwaukee specifically for nearly a decade, Jeffrey Dahmer was a household name, and I thought this book brought a new perspective on it - namely, the media.

Anne E. Schwartz was the reporter to break this story making it an extremely unique viewpoint. She talks about how much the Dahmer story and murders evolved as the case was cracked open (there were instances where her story didn’t match with the story I’ve heard throughout my life, and it made me question whose truth was the actual truth??), and the twisted routes the media would take to be the first to break the next nugget.

My biggest qualm is that Schwartz is a bit too pro-cop in her telling, despite the clear evidence that the MPD was operating with racism and homophobia at their core, and had ample time to intervene sooner had they even considered the situations brought to them. 

WOW. Who would have thought that I would love this one even more than the first one (which was already twisty and gorey and oh so messed up).

Adam Cesare has done it again. He made me root for characters I thought were good, then cry for characters who were actually good.

This is me asking for a third one. Adam, do you hear me? The people want a third one. 

A new couple and their baby move into a fancy neighborhood after winning a home in a raffle. As the neighbors get to know them, it comes to light that this couple aren’t who they said they were, and more and more secrets come to light.

THE NEW COUPLE by Alison James was a fun and twisty domestic drama turned thriller.

The first portion of this book was filled with tons of neighbor drama (which I LOVED), and then segued into what the rest of the story would become - a quite slow-paced thriller - as you’re trying to piece everything together.

That’s not to say I didn’t LIKE the book when it got to that point (because I did), but I found myself wanting things to wrap up quicker than they actually did. Everything felt a bit drawn out and pandering, and the ending left me wanting for a little more.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an eArc in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: September 27