A few years ago, I said my true crime fix was stalkers, but I think I've added another one to the list: cults. Jonestown, the Ant Hill Kids, the Work, anything that involves a sociopathic narcissist roping innocent victims into their twisted orbit, under the guide of improving their lives. Everyone says that they are … Continue reading A Mother Always Knows, by Sarah Strohmeyer
Tag: book-review
Witch You Would, by Lia Amador
I think this is the first romance I've read in a bit that, to my knowledge, has not been rabidly hyped up on social media. It's probably going to be a while until I read another Abby Jimenez book (Abby, I admire your work, but your formula is wearing off), so books like Witch You … Continue reading Witch You Would, by Lia Amador
Just for the Summer, by Abby Jimenez
Need I even try to introduce Abby Jimenez anymore? For better or worse, this BookTok-famous author (the only one that I've actually liked so far) has slid right into my list of reliable writers. Although I did not enjoy Say You'll Remember Me at all, I was still willing to give her next books a … Continue reading Just for the Summer, by Abby Jimenez
Pen Pal, by J.T. Geissinger
The next time someone suggests a book that has any sort of popularity on TikTok, I should just not bother. Or at least do my own damn research on a book before deciding to consume it. I first heard of Pen Pal in a TBR video from a YouTuber that I typically get horror movie … Continue reading Pen Pal, by J.T. Geissinger
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Vol. 1, by Alvin Schwartz
No book title evokes more millennial Halloween nostalgia than Alvin Schwartz' Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. There's probably no use reviewing this book because we all know it so well. But these stories have staying power all these years later, thanks in part to the books' iconic macabre illustrations and the variety of … Continue reading Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Vol. 1, by Alvin Schwartz
The Housemaid, by Frieda McFadden
Many domestic thrillers tell the same story: a picture-perfect suburban family (often wealthy, white, and Christian) is hiding a deadly secret that threatens their perfect image. But gosh darn it if that formula does not give so much space to play with everyday domestic anxieties and create powerful emotional responses. The Housemaid is almost as … Continue reading The Housemaid, by Frieda McFadden
Horror Movie, by Paul Tremblay
Paul Tremblay has really gained traction as a contemporary horror writer. For some reason, I didn’t actively seek out more of his works after I enjoyed A Head Full of Ghosts a couple of years ago, but his most recent release, Horror Movie, kept popping up in my digital library feed, so I decided to … Continue reading Horror Movie, by Paul Tremblay
Black Woods, Blue Sky, by Eowyn Ivey
Eowyn Ivey is one of those authors who, although you cannot quite remember the ins and outs of her stories, you never forget. I haven't read a book of hers since The Snow Child back in 2018, and it was quite an emotionally compelling read. So, of course, when Black Woods, Blue Sky crossed my … Continue reading Black Woods, Blue Sky, by Eowyn Ivey
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, by Grady Hendrix
You know, the world can make you really, really, REALLY angry sometimes. And one of the best ways to gratify said anger is to pick a book about repressed young women giving the people who wronged and infantilized them their comeuppance through witchcraft. Yes, here we are, another book about women using magic to even … Continue reading Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, by Grady Hendrix
The Wishing Game, by Meg Shaffer
It's a lofty temptation indeed when a whimsical book summary about an overworked adult's childhood dreams coming true comes with literary award nominations. Although, even if The Wishing Game did not come with any accolades, it would have intrigued me enough to open it, because I am also an overworked adult who yearns for childhood … Continue reading The Wishing Game, by Meg Shaffer
The Library Key 