Simple Book Reviews

A heartwarming and witty romance, People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry is the perfect read for fans of the friends-to-lovers trope. Poppy and Alex have been best friends for twelve years, taking an annual summer vacation together despite their opposite personalities. But after a disastrous trip to Croatia, they stopped speaking. Now, two years […]

An atmospheric and twist-filled thriller, The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager is the perfect summer camp mystery. Fifteen years ago, Emma watched her three cabinmates disappear into the woods, never to be seen again. The only clue? A cryptic game of “Two Truths and a Lie” they played that night. Now, she’s invited back […]

A powerful and heartbreaking work of investigative journalism, Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga sheds light on systemic racism and injustice faced by Indigenous youth in Canada. The book recounts the tragic deaths of seven Indigenous students (Jordan Wabasse, Kyle Morrisseau, Curran Strang, Robyn Harper, Paul Panacheese, Reggie Bushie, and Jethro Anderson), who left their homes in […]

A beautifully written and deeply emotional retelling of The Iliad, The Song of Achilles reimagines the love story between Achilles and Patroclus. Told from Patroclus’ perspective, the novel follows their journey from childhood friends to lovers, leading up to the infamous Trojan War. Miller’s prose is poetic and immersive, capturing the intensity of their bond and […]

A chilling mix of haunted house horror and psychological thriller, Home Before Dark by Riley Sager is an eerie, unputdownable read. Twenty-five years ago, Maggie Holt’s parents fled Baneberry Hall in the dead of night, claiming it was haunted. Her father turned their experience into House of Horrors, a bestselling memoir filled with ghostly encounters. But […]

Meant to Be is a sweeping love story inspired by John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, offering a blend of glamour, heartbreak, and destiny. Joe Kingsley is American royalty, raised under immense public scrutiny with expectations to follow in his legendary father’s footsteps. Cate Cooper, a model from a troubled past, has worked hard […]

A powerful and emotionally raw novel, Tonight We Rule the World by Zack Smedley tackles trauma, identity, and resilience. Told in dual timelines, the book follows Owen as he navigates high school, friendship, and first love while also dealing with the aftermath of a life-altering event, his sexual assault. As an anonymous tip leads to a […]

A gripping investigative thriller, Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea keeps readers on edge with its intriguing premise and shocking twists. Twenty years ago, bestselling author Cameron Young was found murdered in his mansion, and his mistress, Victoria Ford, was the prime suspect. But when she perished on 9/11, the case was closed; until now. When […]

A haunting and suspenseful mystery, The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James combines true crime, ghostly elements, and psychological intrigue. In 1977, Beth Greer, a wealthy and eccentric woman, was accused of the infamous Lady Killer murders. Though acquitted, she became a recluse, living alone in her mansion for decades. Forty years later, Shea […]

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune is a heartwarming and whimsical tale about acceptance, found family, and embracing the extraordinary. Linus Baker is a rigid, by-the-book caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. When he’s assigned to investigate an orphanage on a remote island, home to six dangerous yet misunderstood magical […]

A witty, emotional, and surprisingly deep romance, Beach Read by Emily Henry is the perfect mix of humor, heart, and slow-burn chemistry. January is a romance novelist who has lost her belief in happily-ever-afters, while Augustus is a literary fiction writer who thrives on tragedy. They’ve never gotten along—until they find themselves living in neighboring beach […]

Simone St. James delivers another spine-chilling thriller with The Sun Down Motel, a dual-timeline mystery packed with eerie atmosphere and supernatural suspense. 1982: In upstate New York, Viv takes a night shift job at the rundown Sun Down Motel. When she starts noticing strange occurrences and sensing that someone, or something, is watching her, she decides […]

A beautifully written second-chance romance, Seven Days in June by Tia Williams delivers deep emotion, rich storytelling, and unforgettable characters. Eva Mercy is a single mother and bestselling erotica author, while Shane Hall is an award-winning literary writer known for his reclusive nature. When Shane unexpectedly appears at a Black author panel where Eva is presenting, […]

A fast-paced and gripping thriller, The Night Shift by Alex Finlay is packed with suspense, multiple POVs, and shocking twists. On New Year’s Eve in 1999, three employees at a Blockbuster store are brutally murdered, with only one survivor, Ella. The suspect vanishes without a trace. Fifteen years later, an eerily similar crime occurs at an ice […]

A powerful and moving debut, Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall explores motherhood, choice, and resilience through the lens of history. Inspired by true events, the novel follows three women across different time periods in Canada, all connected by an underground abortion network known as “The Janes.” Their intertwined stories shine a light on the struggles […]

Things We Do in the Dark has all the elements of a great thriller (multiple timelines, a true-crime podcast connection, and dark secrets), but it didn’t fully grip me. The novel follows Paris, a woman whose past is catching up to her after her husband’s high-profile murder. As she tries to stay out of the spotlight, […]