The premise of this book hooked me right in, but I think that there's a bit of mismarketing going on with Nicky Gonzalez's debut novel, MAYRA.
Years afThe premise of this book hooked me right in, but I think that there's a bit of mismarketing going on with Nicky Gonzalez's debut novel, MAYRA.
Years after losing touch, Ingrid gets a surprise call from her childhood best friend, Mayra, inviting her to a mysterious weekend in the Everglades. Intrigued and a little nostalgic, Ingrid agrees, even though she’s not sure that so much has changed between them that there may be some uncomfortability or awkwardness. When she arrives, Mayra is still the friend Ingrid knew her to be, but things are a bit off. Mayra’s boyfriend, Benji is already there and the house turns out to be his strange, inherited estate. As the trio eats, drinks, and drifts through the sprawling, estate, Ingrid begins to feel uncomfortable. The book dives mainly into flashbacks between Mayra and Ingrid's friendship and I do believe this book to be more about their friendship than anything that would be deemed a horror novel. Flashbacks blur with the present, but I felt the payoff to be underwhelming. I am objectively giving this book 3 stars because I do believe that there's a reader market for this book, but maybe along the lines of suspense rather than horror/mystery/thriller. ...more
I have never read anything by Erica LaRocca, but his newest book, AT DARK, I BECOME LOATHSOME, has been on my radar recently. The cover was creepy AF I have never read anything by Erica LaRocca, but his newest book, AT DARK, I BECOME LOATHSOME, has been on my radar recently. The cover was creepy AF and the synopsis sounded great, so I decided to listen to the audiobook via @librofm and I’m so glad that I did!
Ashley Lutin, haunted by the loss of his wife and son, has built a ritual to help those caught between the desire to die and the hope for a better life. When he meets Jinx, a man with a disturbing past, their connection unleashes a spiral of dark revelations, forcing them to confront pain, secrets, and the possibility of redemption.
This book has ALLLLLL the trigger warnings, just FYI. It’s the most F’d up book I’ve read/listened to since Brother by Ania Ahlborn. That being said, I was absolutely captivated. This book is utterly tragic and immersive. This book touches on grief, homosexuality, religion, and the darkest parts of peoples’ souls. The book is technically a novella, but it reads like a fully vetted horror novel. I would love to see this book developed further in tv or film! I am now a complete fan of this author’s works and will read whatever he comes out with next. Expect AT DARK, I BECOME LOATHSOME to be in my top reads of 2025!...more
Abe is a young musician and he finds himself trapped in a gas station bathroom at night, caught between the horrors outside the door and the terrifyinAbe is a young musician and he finds himself trapped in a gas station bathroom at night, caught between the horrors outside the door and the terrifying creatures crawling inside. This horror novella, perfect for Halloween season. It stressed me out and made me vow never to stop at a rest stop again without my phone. Abe’s desperate fight for survival while battling his own mind was fascinating, though the mind-bending ending left me feeling confused—in the best way possible. The story is funny, gross, gory, and intensely anxiety-inducing as things spiral from bad to worse. It was a quick, and fun read for sure....more
A quick novella with a great twist at the end. Imagine bumping into an old college friend and sparking up a conversation about what's happened since yA quick novella with a great twist at the end. Imagine bumping into an old college friend and sparking up a conversation about what's happened since you last saw each other. This story dives into that conversation between the narrator and his old colleague Jeff. Overall, this book is not going to be one that stays with me for awhile, but I was entertained. The ending makes the book and I wish we could've had some of that darkness in the entire story. I would read another book by the author, but I'm not sure how I would recommend this one to readers other than the fact that it's a quick one sitting read....more
Bumped up to 4 since it's a debut novel by the dynamic duo Teresa Sorkin and Tullan Holmqvist.
The Woman in the Park is a great novella that will Bumped up to 4 since it's a debut novel by the dynamic duo Teresa Sorkin and Tullan Holmqvist.
The Woman in the Park is a great novella that will keep you guessing. The protagonist, Sarah Rock, lives a privileged life in Manhattan with her husband and two children. Sarah's children are in boarding school and her husband works intense hours, leaving her with little drive or purpose. She has therapy appointments, in between yoga and reading in the park. One day, police arrive at her doorstep to ask her about a woman who's been missing, but Sarah is confused because police are insinuating that Sarah is the lead suspect in this case. Why would Sarah have anything to do with this woman's disappearance? Sarah is already battling her own demons with an all time high level of stress—her husband is quite possibly having an affair! Sarah now needs to defend herself at all costs.
I can't say too much more about The Woman in the Park because it's a short, fast read. If I tell you any more, it would spoil how it turns out. The book is divided in two distinct parts—the first part setting the storyline, while the second part throws a wrench into the plot and changes everything. I really enjoyed how the story developed, and I wanted more! The second part moves fast so make sure to:
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The Woman in the Park is a perfect beach read, or just a "night in" kind of story that you can finish in one sitting. If you enjoy books written by AJ Banner, this is definitely a type of story you will enjoy. I ended up really connecting with some of the characters, and felt their anguish while the story developed. Overall, I would definitely say this was a great debut novel and I can't wait to see what these authors come up with next....more
Warning! Do not read on Kindle while walking! You may bump into someone on line at Starbucks and get called an idiot Millennial!
Work has been stressinWarning! Do not read on Kindle while walking! You may bump into someone on line at Starbucks and get called an idiot Millennial!
Work has been stressing me out lately and I haven't been able to read as much as I wanted to. I just couldn't commit to something substantially long because my hours have been hectic beyond all reason. I was very excited after speaking with Mr. Jack Jordan about A Woman Scorned because I knew it would be a quick read and my friends Chelsea and Amy (shoutout to @suspensethrill and @novelgossip on Instagram!) rave about all his books. At under 150 pages, A Woman Scorned packs a punch!
The story alternates between four point of views, but it's so carefully organized that it never gets confusing. In fact, it shows the perspectives of four people propelled into the same situation. We get to see their inner psyche while watching them cope with a series of betrayal, lies, deceit, and manipulation. In this story we have: Amber, the doting wife and mother who has a mysterious, yet dangerous past; Richard, Amber's good-looking and successful husband, hiding more than one secret of his own from his beloved family; Neena- a single mother trying to find the perfect balance between work and play; and lastly we have James who is Amber's gay best friend that lives next door. We also hear a little bit from Amber and Richard's daughter Samantha, but her role isn't too involved. All four of these people are in limbo after a series of circumstance forever intertwines them.
Ok everyone, that's all you get! I'm not writing an editorial over here. I was so immersed with the story in A Woman Scorned that it began affecting my life. 1 hour of doing cardio (yes!), waking up in the middle of the night to create the perfect picture for Instagram @scared_str8 (yes!/no-I'm sleepy), and getting yelled at by people at Starbucks (bye!). If you're looking for a domestic thriller that gives you all the goods, I think you need to check this out. Seriously guys, I'm obsessed with Amber! ;)
A Woman Scorned will be released on May 3rd! ...more