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...
Author: Tanya Talaga
Review by Mel on 2024-01-03
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 remote communities to pursue ...
Author: Madeline Miller
Review by Mel on 2024-01-02
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 the weight of Achilles’ destiny. While t...
Author: Riley Sager
Review by Mel on 2024-01-02
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 Maggie doesn’t remember any of it—and she certainly ...
Author: Emily Giffin
Review by Mel on 2023-12-31
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 to escape the shadows of her childhood. On paper, their worlds don’...
Author: Zack Smedley
Review by Mel on 2023-12-31
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 school investigation, Owen struggles with whether to speak his truth. This ...
Author: Charlie Donlea
Review by Mel on 2023-12-30
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 her DNA is unexpectedly recovered at Ground Zero, journalist Aver...
Author: Simone St. James
Review by Mel on 2023-12-30
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 Collins, a true crime blogger and survivor of an abduction atte...