March 2025

The Locked Door by Freida McFadden 🇺🇸 (2021)
This little puppy had me hooked from the very first page! Twists and turns are expertly crafted, creating an atmosphere of tension and mystery – where nothing is quite what it seems… Heroine, Nora’s backstory adds depth to the plot, and as secrets unfold, I found myself constantly second-guessing what would happen next… The ending was absolutely satisfying – and exactly what I crave in a thriller. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, addictive read with jaw-dropping surprises, this one won’t disappoint! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Nanny by Eleonor Samuel 🇬🇧 (2023)
A promising premise that quickly fizzled into a predictable and lacklustre thriller. The twists felt forced, the suspense fell flat, and the long-winded pacing meant I’d lost patience long before the final chapter. Meh. ⭐️⭐️

You Could Be So Pretty by Holly Bourne 🇬🇧 (2023)
Rather than a review, I’m sharing an extract – because honestly, what more needs to be said? YCBSP is one of the most powerful books of our time; a searing exploration of beauty and what it means for women. Set in a dystopia that isn’t really a dystopia at all, but a chilling reflection of our own world – where sexual violence is normalised, and women must uphold impossible beauty standards just to be seen. This book pulls no punches, delving into misogyny, sexual abuse, eating disorders, body shaming, and the impact of pornography. Can’t recommend enough ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“This isn’t a dystopia. This is a fiction. This is now normal. This world we’ve come to accept as ordinary. A world where girls must paint over their entire faces with makeup before leaving the house in order to look normal, let alone beautiful. Where they check the altered faces of others on their phones almost constantly. Face after face that make them feel disgusting and terrible but faces that aren’t real faces. Faces that have been injected and cut. Smothered and well-lit and then tweaked and altered before posting. All to win the game, where the winners are weaker not stronger. To be the best at having a face for a short period of time before time itself will make that face offensive and not worth listening to or noticing. So, you chase the face you used to have. You chase and you chase, and you chase… These girls who go to school every day, trying to learn and yet spend their time trying to stop their bodies being touched, groped, commented on, assaulted. Porn sent to them… this is what sex is, what pleasure is. It will hurt for you. Accept this, embrace this – or there’s something wrong with you. Alongside these girls’ official education, they are taught invisible lessons about how their body should be. How much space it should take up. The hunger involved so their body can look the right way, then blamed when their body looking that way means boys cannot help but assault them. So ordinary, so perfectly ordinary. Not a dystopia, just normality.”

The Women by Kristin Hannah 🇺🇸 (2024) 
An absolute masterpiece which reached into my soul and captured my heart. I was absolutely hooked from the first page, laughing one moment, weeping the next – and one time uncontrollably sobbing. Hannah has completely outdone herself, weaving together a story of resilience, love and the unyielding strength of women in the face of unimaginable challenges. The characters felt so real I wanted to hug them (or shake them!) – their pain and victories were that visceral. The prose was pure magic, transporting me to another time and place, making every emotion hit where it hurts. It’s no surprise TW dominated 2024, winning Goodreads’ Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction and spending 10 weeks as the New York Times #1 fiction bestseller. The world clearly couldn’t put it down, and neither could I. This isn’t just a book; it’s an experience. An absolute must-read that will stay with you long after you’ve read the final page. Outstanding. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Widow’s Husbands Secret Lie by Freida McFadden 🇺🇸 (2024)
We all know I’m mad for McFadden… she sure knows how to keep readers on their toes. TWHSL definitely had its fair share of jaw-dropping moments; the secrets were juicy, the pacing was quick – and I flew through it in no time. But while the twists kept coming, some felt more ‘wait, what?’ than the more accustomed ‘whaaat..?!!’ It was all a little *too* over-the-top, even for McFadden. By the end, the plot felt like it was twisting for the sake of it. It was still an entertaining, binge-worthy read… I just wish it had packed a bit more punch. (I still love you, Freida!) ⭐⭐

How to Kill Men and Get Away with It by Katy Brent 🇬🇧 (2022)
Think Made in Chelsea meets You – a glamorous, dark and deliciously twisted take on modern socialites, the BS of social media influence – and all the chaos that comes with it. While the final twist was more than a little far-fetched, the rich character development of protagonist Kitty had me absolutely hooked; you can’t help but love her. Brilliantly sharp, wickedly fun and an absolute page-turner. You’re welcome! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

February 2025

The Mother by TM Logan 🇬🇧 (2023)
A solid, suspenseful read with plenty of twists… Logan creates an intriguing plot around a mother’s desperate fight to clear her name and protect her family. While the premise is gripping and the narrative keeps you invested until the end – it doesn’t quite pack the punch of Logan’s previous works. Easy enough beach read though! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Ex by Freida McFadden 🇺🇸 (2020)
Hell yeah! McFadden delivers again with this fast-paced, tension-filled, mind-bending masterpiece. From the first page, I was sucked into a whirlwind of twists, turns and WTF?! moments. The tension was immaculate, the dual (triple..? Quadruple..?) narratives were layered to perfection and just when I thought I had it all figured out, BAM! Another jaw-dropper hits you right in the kisser. Okay, so a few moments stretched believability, but did I care? Not one bit. If you love psychological thrillers packed with suspense and twists, TE is a must. It’s the kind of book that makes you ignore any life responsibilities and stay up way too late. Meh, that’s what concealer is for. Easily one of my McFadden faves. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Last Illusion of Paige White by Vanessa McCausland 🇦🇺 (2025)
McCausland’s TLIoPW is a beautifully written, thought-provoking novel. I’ve followed McCausland’s journey since her debut, The Lost Summers of Driftwood (which was actually my first ever published book review in January 2023), and this is easily one of her best! Her prose is stunning – lyrical yet sharp, drawing you into a world where childhood friendships, adult relationships, and the complexities of social media narratives and validation seamlessly intertwine. The idea of crafting an illusion of a perfect world in an imperfect reality is explored masterfully. A compelling, poignant read that lingers long after the final page. Beautiful, haunting, and utterly immersive. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover 🇺🇸 (2022) 
This story was raw, heartbreaking and packed full of so much emotional depth that I genuinely felt every ounce of Kenna’s pain, regret and hope. As for Ledger? Character. Development. Perfection. RoH balances grief and redemption so seamlessly, you’ll want to cry one minute and swoon the next. Forgiveness and second chances are explored with such beautiful authenticity, and as for the spicy scenes..?! Yeesha, MAMA! 🌶️🥵 I devoured this in one weekend and didn’t want it to end. Prepare your heart and stock up on the Kleenex… ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas 🇪🇸 (2022) 
Look, was this the most original book I’ve ever read? Absolutely not. Was it cliché and predictable? 100%. Could I put it down? Nope. There was just *something* about Armas’ writing that kept me hooked, even when I knew exactly where the story was going… What’s that something, I hear you ask? The SPICE… ¡AY MAMÁ! If the rest of the book was dishing out the meh, the steamy scenes were dishing out everything. For that alone, I’ve bumped this review up half a point… and I’m off for a cold shower! 🌶️🌶️🌶️½

The Crash by Freida McFadden 🇺🇸 (2025)  
McFadden’s latest release came crashing onto our shelves earlier this week, and I was hooked from the very first page. Eerie atmosphere? Check. Unreliable narrators? Check. Jaw-dropping twists? Plenty. The tension builds beautifully, keeping you second-guessing every character’s motives until the very end… That said, while the story was entertaining, some reveals felt a little too contrived (totally called the final twist, FYI). But did that stop me from devouring it within two days of its release? Absolutely not. McFadden’s signature addictive writing made this another must-read thriller. Not quite a five-star session, but still a solid, suspenseful ride! Love you, Freida! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Funny Story by Emily Henry 🇺🇸 (2024) 
Finally! I knew Henry had it in her – and FS absolutely delivered! This book had me laughing, swooning and catching all of the feels in one. The narrative was flawless and the dynamic between Daphne and Miles was quirky, heartfelt and funny in all the right places. Unlike my past Henry disappointments (I’m lookin’ at you, Happy Place / You and Me on Vacation), FS had me invested from start to finish. No lulls, no predictable BS – just pure, serotonin-boosting joy. Miss Henry, I take it all back. This is what I was waiting for. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

January 2025

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty 🇦🇺 (2024) 
A solid read with Moriarty’s signature knack for exploring relationships and secrets in a way that pulls you in. The writing was engaging, and the characters were well-drawn, but the plot leaned a bit too much into predictability for my taste. While I can see why HOM is getting so much praise, it didn’t quite pack the surprise or depth I was hoping for. Still, it was enjoyable – with some very accurate candid observations of human nature. Worth a read, but not her strongest IMO. ⭐️⭐️⭐️½

I Will Find You by Harlan Coben 🇺🇸 (2023)
An easy read, showcasing Coben’s trademark suspense while keeping readers engaged with intriguing premise and twists. While the tension was consistent and the story entertaining, some characters felt a little underdeveloped, and the pacing was uneven at times. Overall it was enjoyable, but missed the impactful ‘bang’ that Coben’s thrillers usually deliver… It didn’t quite reach the heights of his best work, IMO. ⭐️⭐️⭐️  

Open Minded by Chloe Seager 🇬🇧 (2024)
An insightful read that took me by surprise – I didn’t clue on that it was exploring open relationships until it hit me in the face! Offering a fresh take on your typical, vanilla romances, OM challenges traditional notions of monogamy with quaint, unexpected depth. The dual narrative of the two protagonists became pretty confusing at times, and because of this the pacing felt uneven. While it didn’t keep me hooked, it was still a decent read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Surrogate Mother by Freida McFadden 🇺🇸 (2020)
Great premise which hooked me from the start… Tense buildup, with twists that kept me flipping pages – however as the plot unfolded, it became more predictable than I’d hoped. The far-fetched ending left me a little confused… but McFadden’s writing was still as engaging as ever, enough to keep readers intrigued. It’s well worth a read for thrill-seekers, but don’t expect a mind-blowing climax. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The First Mistake by Sandie Jones 🇬🇧 (2019)
Look, it started off strong with an intriguing premise and complex characters. However, as the story progressed, twists became a far-fetched (to say the least!), and the tension all but fizzled out by the end. While there were moments of suspense, it just didn’t land. A decent thriller, but not as gripping as it could have been. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine 🇺🇸 (2023)
I loved this quirky, fun read! So many laugh out loud moments – Levine has a great sense of humour that really shines through in MRIAV. While the storyline wasn’t particularly groundbreaking, the narrative was engaging and had a charming, light-hearted vibe throughout. That said, the ending felt crazily rushed and left me wondering, ‘Now what..?!’ Despite this, it was still a cute and different take on the vampire genre, and the writing was spot on. Definitely worth picking up if you’re in the mood for a light, amusing and, ahem, juicy read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️½

The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden 🇺🇸 (2022)
TPS begins with a bang and McFadden does a great job setting up the initial tension, with early chapters packed full of suspense and intrigue… The story follows Grace, a mother who believes her son Jack is, you guessed it; perfect – until he’s accused of a shocking crime. As Grace’s world falls apart, her internal struggle and the unravelling family secrets create a gripping narrative. As the story progressed however, the plot became predictable, twists felt more forced than surprising and it was hard to stay fully engaged. Some characters (especially Jack) felt underdeveloped, making it difficult to fully connect with the story’s emotional stakes. TPS is a gripping read, but it might leave you wanting a bit… more. Here’s a cheeky tidbit though; the twist is not just at the end – but on the very last line, of the very page! Oooooh. You’re welcome. ⭐️⭐️⭐️   

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne 🇦🇺 (2023)
Oh, Lenny! If quirky, loveable characters wrapped in a little mystery are your thing, this MUST be your next read. LMGAWM delivers a dark comedy meets heartwarming drama through Lenny; our brilliantly awkward, witty and chaotic protagonist. Mayne has a way of sliding humour into even the most tender or tense moments… making you laugh out loud one minute, and perched on the edge of your seat the next. The balance of suspense and charm is perfect. If you’re after a cozy little rad, with a whole lot of heart and a fresh perspective on the murder-mystery genre, LMGAWM will absolutely win you over – it’s a gem of a debut! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️