As August slips away, we’re still in the middle of a heatwave as September begins, which comes as no surprise. I’ve already got fall on my mind and just need the weather to catch up. Here are two standouts from the past month that brought me joy: a gripping first book in a brand new series by thriller queen Karin Slaughter, and a dazzling Lights Lacquer polish that has me craving fall more than ever.
📖 Favorite book I read: We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter
Thank you William Morrow for the free advanced copy of We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter.
In the small town of North Falls, the disappearance of two teenage girls during the fireworks proves that no one truly knows each other. Officer Emmy Clifton, burdened by guilt, is determined to find them and uncover the secrets the town has been hiding.
Karin Slaughter is an auto-read author for me so it was no surprise that her latest book, We Are All Guilty Here (the first in the North Falls series), is a 5-star read! This is one of those books you should go into without knowing too many details so you can experience every surprise. This slow-burn police procedural had me on my toes until the very end. I thought I had it all figured out, but twist after twist kept me guessing and I could not put it down. The emotional, deeply flawed characters hit me to my core. Slaughter did an incredible job weaving together two timelines with enough clarity to keep me fully invested. There were moments that felt heavy where I truly sympathized with Emmy or Jude and moments that left me completely shell-shocked. Highly recommend picking this one up. Now I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
💅Favorite Manicure: Lights Lacquer Saddle Up
Saddle Up is part of the Lights Lacquer Headed West fall collection. I’m actually surprised that I chose another red as my favorite given that I don’t really wear red manis that much. I’m obsessed with how this specific shade reminds me of fall. I love how opaque and creamy it is. This will definitely be a repeat mani this upcoming season!
Fall may not be here yet, but my TBR and polish picks are already there.
Don’t Open Your Eyes by Liv Constantine Publisher: Random House Pub Date: 6/17/2025
Thank you PRH Audio for the free copy.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Annabelle has a perfect life until she starts having vivid dreams that feel more like warnings of a dangerous future. When parts of the dreams begin coming true, she’s forced to question her reality and how far she’ll go to protect her daughter.
Don’t Open Your Eyes was one of my most anticipated June reads. Liv Constantine is an auto-read author for me so I was really excited for this one! I liked the storyline and found the multiple perspectives engaging. Each voice felt distinct and the audiobook narrators were a great fit. Scarlett was my favorite character. I enjoyed seeing how she navigated being a teen. The dream sequences from Annabelle’s point of view were intriguing and I liked the use of premonitions throughout. The ending wasn’t my favorite, but it was decent. Overall, I’d rate this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 on Goodreads.
King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby Publisher: Flatiron Pub Date: 6/10/2025
Thank you Flatiron & Macmillan Audio for the free advanced copies.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Roman Carruthers returns home after his father’s suspicious car accident, he finds his family drowning in debt and danger from violent criminals. As his sister Neveah fights to hold the family together, Roman uses his sharp financial skills, a ruthless side the gangsters didn’t expect, to protect the people he loves at any cost.
S.A. Cosby is an auto-read author for me and I can always count on his books to pull me out of a slump. I was especially excited to hear that Adam Lazarre-White would be narrating this one because I love his performances in Cosby’s other books. King of Ashes is another hit! Cosby has a way of creating characters you genuinely empathize with. They make tough choices and suddenly you’re wrapped up in their complexity and moral grayness. Roman was such a layered character and he’s truly put through the wringer. The book raises hard questions about how far you would go to protect your family while also exploring strained family dynamics and complicated ties within a close-knit community. Cosby’s story is gritty and includes some graphic elements, but it feels purposeful and drive both the plot and character growth. I loved the slow burn, the high stakes for every character, and that epic ending! I was driving while listening to the last part and literally had to pull over just to relisten. Overall, I highly recommend picking this one up on audio!
It’s pub day and I’ve got three new releases to talk about. All three ended up being 3-star reads for me. Nothing terrible, but nothing I’m rushing to recommend either. If you’re curious about what didn’t quite hit, keep reading.
What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown Publisher: Random House
Thank you PRH Audio and Random House for the free advanced copy.
What Kind of Paradise is about Jane, who grows up in an isolated Montana cabin, believing her father is her whole world. But when she uncovers a terrible truth, she runs to San Francisco searching for answers and starts to question everything she thought she knew about her past, her parents, and herself.
I loved Janelle’s previous books so I was really looking forward to What Kind of Paradise. I had mixed feelings about this one. The premise was interesting, but the execution felt meh. It’s not really a thriller as it leans more toward general fiction with a hint of suspense. The pacing was uneven where the beginning drew me in, but the second half dragged and felt way too slow. All the tech talk made me lose interest. I just couldn’t connect with Jane as she felt too emotionally distant for me to feel much empathy toward her. The ending also wrapped up a little too neatly. Overall, this one just didn’t work for me the way I hoped.
Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto Publisher: Hyperion Ave
Thank you Leo PR & Hyperion Ave for the free advanced copy.
To save her father’s hedge fund deal, Mulan pretends to be him and heads to a whiskey ranch run by Shang and his old-school, misogynistic family. She’s determined to close the deal, but falling for Shang was never part of the plan.
Worth Fighting For is the fifth book in the Meant To Be series and a modern Mulan retelling. I had mixed feelings about this one. I loved the sentiment behind the story and what it clearly meant to the author. The way iconic scenes from the movie were seamlessly integrated into a contemporary setting was one of the highlights. Mulan’s personality was what I expected. It didn’t surprise me that she altered her name for the Lis, but it did stretch believability that they fell for it considering her dad is the managing partner and owner of the firm. Also with how involved Shang was in social media, it was hard to believe he didn’t know who she was.
The part I struggled with most was Shang’s character. He was really underdeveloped. While I appreciated that he wasn’t as blatantly misogynistic as the rest of his family, we never got to see his leadership in action or feel his passion for Wutai Gold, his family’s high-end whiskey company. Mushu was a firecracker and I had mixed feelings about her. I loved how loyal and supportive she was to Mulan, but she could be a bit too out there at times. The ranch portion of the story was easily my favorite. It brought out everyone’s personalities and felt the most engaging. Unfortunately, the ending didn’t work for me. Too much happened too fast, it felt rushed and anticlimactic, and then it just abruptly stopped. I’m curious to see what the next retelling in this series will be!
The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for the free advanced copy.
Olivia Dumont is a ghostwriter hiding her identity as the daughter of infamous horror author and murder suspect Vincent Taylor. When she agrees to ghostwrite his final book, long-buried family secrets and haunting truths resurface.
I loved The Last Flight, but found The Lies I Tell to be just okay so I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Ghostwriter. The premise was intriguing and felt unique which is what drew me in. However, I wasn’t a fan of the writing style or execution. The first half of the book is an extremely slow build while the second half picks up slightly with more flashbacks that help move the story along. I found Olivia to be a dull and unengaging protagonist with no real character growth. Of all the perspectives, Poppy’s was the most compelling. Vince’s chapters, on the other hand, read more like a teenage girl than a boy which pulled me out of the story. It was frustrating how often information was repeated as if the reader couldn’t connect the dots on their own. Many side characters seemed to appear out of nowhere and felt underdeveloped. The last 15% of the book is where the action finally kicks in and the ending was decent. Overall, I don’t think Julie Clark’s writing style is for me.
Count My Lies by Sophie Stava Publisher: Gallery Pub Date: 3/4/2025
Thank you Simon Audio and Libro.FM for the free audiobook copy.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Sloane Caraway, a habitual liar, lands a nanny job with a wealthy New York family after a small deception. But as she gets closer to them, she realizes she’s not the only one keeping dangerous secrets.
Count My Lies is GMA’s March pick. Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. The premise sounded promising, but the execution fell flat. The writing felt more like telling than showing which lacked depth though it was slightly entertaining. This book was essentially a bland mix of The Last Mrs. Parrish and The Housemaid, but without the intrigue that made those stand out. The characters were one-dimensional and the Taylor Swift references felt overused. I found the twists along with the ending to be predictable and underwhelming. The ending was especially unrealistic. Overall, it left me surprised that this was chosen as a book club pick. I would not recommend picking this up.
Everybody Is a Liar by Liv Constantine Publisher: Random House Pub Date: 11/12/2024
Thank you to PRH Audio for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Julie Buckley, a mystery writer, suspects her husband of cheating and turns to her therapist Liza for help as they work through their issues. When a murder occurs in their small town, there are secrets and lies could be key to solving the case.
Everybody Is a Liar is available exclusively in audiobook format and is performed by a full cast. The multiple perspectives added depth to the story and while a few of the twists were predictable, the ending surprised me. The audiobook gave me The Last Mrs. Parrish vibes which I loved. The engaging plot kept my attention throughout. Overall, I enjoyed this one!
This Is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter Publisher: William Morrow Pub Date: 8/20/2024
Thank you to William Morrow for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Will Trent and Sara Linton’s honeymoon at a secluded mountain lodge takes a dark turn when the lodge manager, Mercy McAlpine, is found dead, and they realize the culprit is among the guests trapped by a raging storm. As they unravel a web of lies and hidden secrets, the couple must race against time to uncover the truth before it’s too late.
I haven’t read the full Will Trent series, but after reading After That Night, I knew I had to pick up This Is Why We Lied. This novel is a locked-room mystery set on top of a mountain, where every character introduced is deeply flawed and their backstories are full of conflicts. Karin Slaughter is an incredibly talented writer and it’s no wonder she’s considered a thriller powerhouse. She doesn’t hold back, delivering detailed descriptions while weaving in complex relationships and emotions that tug at the reader’s heartstrings. I love that the story is told in the third person, allowing us to get inside each character’s head and uncover what others don’t know which keeps the narrative engaging. The McAlpine family is seriously messed up and I didn’t see any of the twists and turns coming. Just when I thought I had figured it out, Karin would throw in another curveball, making me question my instincts. I loved how the story kept me on my toes especially Will’s decision at the end. I believe this book could be read as a standalone even if you haven’t read the rest of the series. Highly recommend picking this one up! If you do, please check the content warnings on StoryGraph first.
Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman Publisher: Little Brown Pub Date: 8/13/2024
Thank you to Little Brown and Hachette Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A pilot’s heart attack leads to a commercial airliner crashing into a nuclear power plant in Waketa, Minnesota, triggering an unprecedented Level 8 nuclear disaster. The residents, including power plant employees and local heroes, must band together to prevent a global catastrophe and save their community.
TJ Newman writes adrenaline-inducing thrillers! Drowning was one of my favorites, while I had mixed feelings about Falling, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from Worst Case Scenario. Like her other books, this one involves a plane crash; however, most of the story unfolds on the ground rather than in the air, which makes the cover somewhat misleading. I had mixed feelings about this one. The beginning gripped me, and I was invested in the crash and its immediate aftermath. But as the story progressed, it started to drag, with too many subplots to keep up with, none of which fully captured my attention. While the action was there and the premise was intriguing, I never felt truly engaged. I ended up listening to the audiobook, and Joe Morton did a fantastic job narrating. I could see this book making a great movie.
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Pub Date: 4/23/2024
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the free copy on NetGalley and Libro.Fm for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth tells the story of three foster sisters, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, who grew up under the strict care of their foster mother on a farm, hiding dark secrets beneath a seemingly perfect upbringing. Their past comes back to haunt them when a body is found under their childhood home, turning them from witnesses into potential suspects in a disturbing case.
Sally Hepworth’s books have been hit or miss for me so I wasn’t sure what to expect from Darling Girls. The intriguing premise initially excited me, however, I didn’t anticipate the heavy subjects being described in such graphic detail. While I expected the thriller to be dark and twisted, the story turned out to be more sad and heartbreaking. It unfolds through three distinct POVs, but the audiobook’s single narrator made it challenging to differentiate between them—I would have preferred multiple narrators for a more immersive experience. The narrative alternates between the present and the characters’ childhoods, with the present timeline being more slow paced and the past providing a faster pace. Unfortunately, I found the ending somewhat predictable. I gave this three stars and I recommend taking a look at the trigger warnings beforehand.
The Next Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine Publisher: Bantam Pub Date: 6/18/2024
Thank you to Random House for the free copy on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Next Mrs. Parrish is about Amber Patterson Parrish, who becomes a well-known socialite even after her husband’s legal troubles. As her husband’s release from prison approaches, she, her husband Jackson, and his ex-wife Daphne face their past mistakes and secrets, leading to unexpected alliances and challenges.
The Next Mrs Parrish is a true sequel so I recommend reading The Last Mrs. Parrish and The First Shot before reading this one. The writing seemed overly simple and the dialogue felt stilted. It leaned more towards a family drama than a thriller. The pacing was uneven, with certain scenes dragging on too long. I wasn’t a fan of the characters and the supposed twists were easily predictable. While I appreciated the various perspectives, I found it odd that Daphne’s perspective was told in the first person whereas Amber and Daisy Ann’s were in the third person which irked me. The ending was predictable, which wasn’t terrible in itself, but the journey there felt lackluster. I ended up giving this book a generous three stars. This sequel felt unnecessary. Overall, I don’t think the author duo is for me. Their style just doesn’t resonate with me, and The Last Mrs. Parrish remains the only book of theirs that I liked.
Asha Reads 