Author: Amy Giles
Review by Mel on 2024-01-21
A thought-provoking and deeply emotional young adult novel, That Night by Amy Giles focuses on the aftermath of a tragedy rather than the event itself. After surviving a school shooting, Jess and Lucas are left grappling with grief, survivor’s guilt, and the weight of moving forward. Rather than dwelling on the details of the attack, this book explores how trauma affects those left behind—the pain of losing love...
Author: Riley Sager
Review by Mel on 2024-01-19
A gripping and suspenseful psychological thriller, Final Girls by Riley Sager is a must-read for fans of horror-inspired mysteries. Quincy Carpenter is the sole survivor of a brutal massacre, earning her the label of a “Final Girl”—a term used to describe women who survive horror-movie-like killings. She has worked hard to move on, but when another Final Girl is found dead, she’s forced to confront her past....
Author: Robin Roe
Review by Mel on 2024-01-18
A deeply moving and emotional young adult novel, A List of Cages by Robin Roe explores themes of trauma, resilience, and the power of friendship. Adam and Julian were once foster brothers, but after years apart, they find themselves reunited in high school. Adam, a popular senior with ADHD, is assigned to help Julian, a quiet and isolated freshman struggling to find his place. As their bond rekindles, Adam begins to...
Author: Colleen Hoover
Review by Mel on 2024-01-14
November 9 is an emotional and unconventional romance that explores fate, timing, and second chances. Fallon and Ben meet by chance on November 9, just before she moves across the country. Drawn to each other, they agree to meet on the same date every year for the next five years, with no contact in between. As their lives change, secrets come to light, making them question if their connection is strong enough to wi...
Author: Colleen Hoover
Review by Mel on 2024-01-07
A raw and emotional story of redemption, motherhood, and second chances, Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover tugs at the heartstrings. After serving time in prison, Kenna returns to the town where everything went wrong, hoping to reconnect with her young daughter. But the people in her daughter’s life—including the child’s guardians—refuse to forgive her past mistakes. The only person willing to give her a ch...
Author: Alison Gaylin
Review by Mel on 2024-01-07
A dark and thought-provoking psychological thriller, The Collective by Alison Gaylin explores the extremes of grief and revenge. Five years after losing her daughter to a privileged young man who escaped justice, Camille is drowning in anger and loss. When she stumbles upon an anonymous online group for grieving mothers, she finally finds a place where her pain is understood. As she gets drawn into the secretive wor...
Author: Emily Henry
Review by Mel on 2024-01-07
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 later, Poppy is determined to rekindle their friendship with one fin...
Author: Riley Sager
Review by Mel on 2024-01-03
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 to Camp Nightingale as an instructor—and she’s determined to uncover the truth about what ha...