Review: You Love Me (You #3)

4 stars. I liked this one a lot better than Hidden Bodies; it’s like Joe slipped back into the game we all know and loved in You. That was really smart of Caroline Kepnes, as I don’t think this series would succeed as one long arc. I love that each book is episodic… it keeps Joe’s adventures fresh and exciting. And I think, realistically, Joe Goldberg wouldn’t be able to stay in one place for very long anyway. So he’s done New York, he’s done LA and now he’s tackling the Pacific Northwest, trying and hoping to be good and normal and as upstanding as possible for the sake of the son he’s never met. Trying. Hoping.

He meets someone new, of course. A new You. And from there we get a front row seat to his obsession as he schemes and manipulates and applies old tricks in new ways. As expected, it’s wild and refreshing and his voice is entertaining and the twists and turns keep the pages turning. There’s that itch again - that itch that makes me want to scream at Joe while knowing, deep down, in so many ways, that he’s right. His observations and criticisms are … shit, I don’t want to say valid or justified. Truthful, maybe. Honest in ways we might have trouble admitting to ourselves.

I love when books exist in a universe where other books exist - where pop culture is a tool used for humor or context or self-awareness. Here it gives the You books a sort of wry opportunity to wink at the reader… mentions of Dexter are nothing short of meta genius. Poor Bainbridge: no place is safe from Joe’s judgment. (I can’t WAIT for him to absolutely crucify Florida in the next book, but can we get one where he ends up in Washington, D.C.? I want to see Joe bitch about WMATA and mock Capitol Hill interns for wearing their badges on the weekend and rub shoulders at the Kennedy Center with the Washington Elite. I would love to see Joe in the world of politics - he’d fit right in.)

Anyway, I’m all in. Sure the ending got a little weird/rushed, but we all knew that a happy one wasn’t in the cards, right? I knew something was coming, because our dear Joe likes to work. He likes projects. I don’t see victory tasting sweet to him, or as sweet as he’d hope.

You Love Me on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Turnout

3 stars. My least favorite Megan Abbott, but mediocre Mabbott is still 80% better than a lot of the books I read. I think fans of Sarah Waters, and maybe Lauren Groff, would love this one. It's chewy and yummy in all the ways you'd expect - plus there's that special bitter Megan crunch. I love the way she writes women, and girls in high-pressure situations. She's really brave and ruthless when it comes to that sort of thing.

The Turnout features what, after reading her deep dives into gymnastics and cheerleading, Abbott's highly anticipated (by me) exploration of ballet - the cutthroat, obsessive way ballet dancers strive for perfection and the brutal journey they take to get there. Dara and her husband Charlie own a successful studio along with Dara's flighty twin sister Marie, but everything is thrown off balance when they need to hire a contractor for renovations. Not to sound too bleak about it, but his entrance causes confusion, chaos and tragedy to bleed from their personal lives into their professional world, all against the backdrop of rehearsals for the ultimate ballet performance: The Nutcracker.

Here's what I really, really liked: the idea of ballet as a dark fairy tale. Also, the theme of appearance vs reality - how something beautiful can be rotten, or painful underneath. The cost of magic, is maybe one way I'd put it. The somewhat realistic depictions of dancer's lives and careers... and the twisting of The Nutcracker's plot into something delightfully dark and sinister and adult. And the way she writes about lust and desire - specifically female lust and desire - and the often impossible battle between what your head wants and what your body wants.

Onto the meh: all of Megan Abbott's books feature implausible premises, but this one went a little too far in a direction that left me less than thrilled. I'm super happy she leaned into the sex of it all, and I'd love to see more of that from her, but some of the writing was noticeably melodramatic for me and ... I don't know, this one just didn't hit very hard. I wasn't particularly surprised by any of the twists, though I loved the ending.

But honestly, pay no attention to the 3 stars. Give this one a go, it's an incredible thriller and Megan Abbott is still an absolute favorite.

The Turnout on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Hidden Bodies (You #2)

3 stars. PHEW. I absolutely draggggggeeedddddd my way through this. It's not bad, and I really enjoyed jumping into Joe's head again (not sure what that says about me, but okay). But there were a couple of specific things that put me off here.

FIRST - we find Joe presumably happy in a new relationship but haunted by his past. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that the book kicks off when his girlfriend betrays him and flees to Los Angeles, luring him to the whole new world of the West Coast. But he's distracted from his mission (which appropriately involves a ton of stalking, hunting, and criticizing) when he finds true love. Zap, just like that, Joe has what he wants. Blah, blah, blah, secrets from the past come to light, what is justice, what is love, who deserves to die (a lot of celebrities, apparently), etc.

Hidden Bodies has all the things I loved about You: Joe's scathing judgments, his obsessions, his squirliness, his biting critique of ... well, everyone. It's so fascinating to me that he's so hateful and right at the same time. That makes trendy-bendy Los Angeles a perfect playground for him; a perfect setting change from the first book. I'm not a fan of LA, I just don't like the vibes, and Joe definitely captures a lot of why that is. But the fact that I don't like LA is also kind of why I was distracted from reading this so easily - it's immersively LA.

The plot rambled and there were maybe too many twists and it's missing some of the fun of it all. I'm used to Joe by now, and maybe I loved You so much because it felt so different and unique. I agree with some of the other reviewers here that it could've been a successful standalone and maybe should've stayed that way. Still, I have to admit that the writing is pretty spectacular in Hidden Bodies, and the second half gets pretty exciting, and I don't think I can stay away from the next one.

Hidden Bodies on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Echo Wife

3 stars. Ahh, interesting. I see why this is compared to a Megan Abbott book - it's a delicious thriller with a solid premise and some serious twists and turns. It's a well-written pageturner with a questionable protagonist who makes questionable decisions while navigating very specific and severe traumas, both old and fresh. I guess I kind of thought it would be more of a straightforward sci-fi, focused on the science and the tech and the clone aspect. But this really is about so much more: identity, a marriage, secrets, and laboratory ethics. There's actually a lot of writing in this book that takes us through the narrator's long thought spirals into each of these topics.

The plot, though, is this: Evelyn, a successful scientist, discovers that her husband has stolen her research with the intention of replacing her with her own clone, manufactured and programmed without flaws and designed to have his child. Evelyn, deeply wounded by this betrayal, embraces a cold and focused part of her identity and thrown herself into her work, determined to avoid the emotional nature of the situation. But when her clone - Martine, his new and newly pregnant fiance - calls her, begging for her help to come and clean up an impossible situation, Evelyn can't refuse, taking them both down an insane, irreversible, groundbreaking path.

I want to talk about Nathan, and how he is barely a part of this story, though the consequences of his actions drive the entire plot from beginning to end. Evelyn may be the narrator, but she has been shaped by abusive men her entire life, as has Martine, and both of them continue to be even in their absence. The tragedy here to me is that they must carve out a way to exist beyond and without Nathan - and go to great lengths to do so - while ensuring they are safe from him, in a way. And he barely appears on screen. It's an interesting angle.

So why 3 stars? This obviously made me think a lot, and I was engrossed. I think what it comes down to is that I liked the idea of Evelyn (cold, calculating, bloodthirsty, cruel, self-awarely selfish, focused, constantly simmering with rage and ambition), but I didn't like the reality of being in her head, mostly because her inner monologue delayed the action so often. I mentioned her thought spirals above - I did find myself skimming a bit in the second half as she tried to navigate descending (or climbing?) the hill she'd built for herself. I am also embarrassingly, personally triggered by toxic bosses and couldn't stand the way she tried to justify being a cruel employer.

That's a lot of words for a short book, though, so I do recommend picking this one up, maybe as a beach read. The scientific aspects are super well-done for something so implausible (for now...). I can't wait to read more from this author!

The Echo Wife on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Survivors

4 stars. Jane Harper is a must-read for me, and she should be for anyone else interested in exquisite mystery thrillers with complex characters involved in complex crimes. In this one, a body of a young woman is found, throwing a small coastal town into chaos. But the core of the story is not a traditional whodunnit - it's also about a storm that ravaged the town over ten years ago, leaving three victims in its wake. I say this adoringly, but: blah blah blah, secrets, clues, family drama, unanswered questions, misplaced blame, etc. etc. etc.

For some reason this one is less of a compelling mystery and more like a ........ feel-bad story. Don't get me wrong, it's a pageturner and I wanted to know the answers, but it felt very grim getting there. Maybe I've forgotten how Harper flavored her other books, and maybe I'm inactively looking for a pick-me-up / grand escape in my reading these days, but it didn't quite hit the spot like I expected it to.

That being said - how wonderfully refreshing to read a book with a young father as the hero, unraveling the mystery with his loving, reliable partner. Also refreshing: a twist I didn't see coming, unexpectedly profound words on grief and guilt, a fantastic ending. Harper really nails those. I also appreciated the pacing and the length of this one, just concise enough to keep me up late thinking "just one more chapter..."

Clever title, BTW! The concept of the Survivors as an art piece is awesome, but obviously the word refers to our characters - each a trauma survivor in his or her own way. I really loved the very human and very heroic failures illustrated in this story, despite the utter darkness seeping out from between the lines. Harper plays with the concept of hero/villain once again, exploring the choices and decisions that lead us down one path or another. Or, maybe, landing us somewhere in-between.

The Survivors on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: My Sister, the Serial Killer

4 stars. This is a super clever, witty, ice cold glass of sparkling water for a cold winter's day. With a simple premise - a hard-working, practical nurse helps cover up her beautiful sister's crimes - we are presented with fully baked, semi-satirical ideas about beauty, jealousy, romance, social media and desire. I was really impressed with the storytelling, even if it was a bit predictable, I still deeply appreciated the characterizations and the way things unfolded. The depiction of sisters here - painted in what I would call extremes - felt true.

It's one of those books that about murder, but not really about murder at all. In fact very few words are actually dedicated to the crimes in question; it's more about the main character's approach to it all; the complexity of her bond with her sister; her resentment and anger and insecurities and the strange way her own continued willing involvement is also the heaviest burden she carries. It's difficult not to want what you'd traditionally expect from a story like this (I wanted Ayoola to go down in absolute epic slasher flames ... or maybe even ... a team-up?! Sisters before misters superheroes sort of thing?), but that's part of its charm.

I look forward to more stories like this; ones that subvert traditional frames and narratives that generally dominate the psychological thriller market. Like others have noted, the whole thing is perhaps not as fleshed out as it could have been. Sort of tastes like a light beer, you know what I mean? Or an acoustic cover? IDK. A thoroughly enjoyable reading experience, for sure. I will never not fully support stories about the intense cruelty and love between sisters.

My Sister, the Serial Killer on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Home Before Dark

3 stars. Hahahahahaha.

Hmmmmmmmm.

Well, then. This is my first Riley Sager, and I have to say - it's kind of what I expected. A twisty, compelling page-turner that is somehow also clumsy, implausible and cheap. I'm such a picky, critical reader, and that for sure prevented me from just sitting back and enjoying the ride. But the fact is that the flaws here far outweigh the merits. 

The plot follows Maggie Holt, a young woman who inherits her childhood home when her father passes away. Her father had written a book about the place, a bestselling novel documenting her family's experiences in the so-called "house of horrors," and Maggie is determined to find out 1) why her father wrote such an unbelievable thing exploiting her childhood, and 2) what really happened to inspire him.

A couple of elements that were really distracting:

1. The borrowed premise. Being derivative is FINE - really - but this is straight up copied from Netflix's adaptation of Hill House. I don't mind when authors reference other works, but I do mind when they aren't self-aware about it. The tropes utilized here are just those - tropes - and I found myself wishing for a wink, a smirk, an elbow nudge to let us know that we're all here to lean in and suspend belief together, which brings me to...

2. The implausibility! Oh man. Horror is my favorite genre to read, so I'm no stranger to accepting unrealities for the sake of a reading experience. But this was just too much. Too much inexplicable decision-making (by sane, capable adults?!), too much memory loss, too many tangled secrets, too many convenient twists. Maggie acts like the book ruined her life...? Like every interaction is tainted by it? Would people really CARE that much?! Everything clicks together in the end, which is nice, but it feels kind of like an uhhhhhhh what? moment. Which brings me to...

3. Sloppy writing. Try-hard cliffhangers. Awkward dialogue. Characters who sound exactly like each other. Forced chemistry between other certain characters. Drawn out moments that should've been concise. Rushed moments that should've been drawn out. Unnecessary conflict. REALLY strange character motivations. Easily identifiable red herrings. 

I actually feel bad now. It's not THAT bad. It's just a little cringey.

Here's the thing: there's a fantastic idea here. And that idea brings us some great, spooky moments and a perfectly horrifying haunted house atmosphere. The mystery at the heart of the story is truly an interesting one and kept my attention, even though I started piecing things together about halfway through. I didn't hate the protagonist or the format or the way things unfolded. It's also, nicely, a fairly quick read. 

I'll pick up another Riley Sager soon. This was good enough for now.

Home Before Dark on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Whisper Man

4 stars. WOW - this was a lot more complicated than I anticipated, in a good way. This book is a very successful example of multiple threads being woven into a complete and thrilling tapestry. I read it in one day and couldn't put it down. I was even, shall I say, a wee bit unsettled at one point...

The Whisper Man features several characters living in a town plagued by tragedy: a man, who recently moved their with his young son for a fresh start after his wife's death, an older detective haunted by a murder case he solved twenty years ago, a younger detective put on a frighteningly similar case, and several other minor - but sinister - individuals circling the mystery.

The multiple voices worked really well (I can't even complain about the younger child's POV, which I always compare to Stephen King and almost always find lacking - but not here!), and the twists and turns tie everyone together nicely. I didn't predict all of the reveals, which was quite something! 

If I did have a slight complaint, I'd say that Tom's voice sounded a bit ... I'm almost scared to say it ... feminine. I kept thinking I was reading from the perspective of a mother rather than a father. I mean, he drank white wine! I know, I'm joking, I would never adhere to such crippling gender stereotypes, but something about his approach to certain situations felt ... off. This is most definitely a problem with my interpretation and not the writing. But I am curious if anyone else experienced the same sensation.

Honestly though, this was great. This would be a fantastic beach read for those of us who like to lean into the dark stuff while lounging in the sunshine. I almost wish the author had leaned even a little bit deeper, because he's talented at writing creepy moments. 4 stars overall, and now I'm back to the Expanse............... god help me.

The Whisper Man on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: The Perfect Nanny

4 stars. OH THIS WAS SO NASTY GOOD! Juicy, tangy, bittersweet, refreshing - totally quenched my thirst. I don't know why I resist books like this - The Silent Patient, Girl on the Train, etc. - I think it's because I find them predictable. I enjoy them, though! I love these little popcorn page-turners! Read this in one sitting on a flight and closed it with an evil grin.

The Perfect Nanny opens with two dead children. The first chapter is a montage of painful details: a mother's scream, the injuries inflicted, the shocked reactions of onlookers. It's tragic and twisted. And then we zoom out and back up and focus on the events leading up to the murders: Myriam, a young, suffering mother decides to go back to work and hires Louise. Louise is perfect. She cooks and cleans and cares for the kids. Until she goes insane and kills them (this isn't a spoiler).

One of the many strengths: not a single character is flat. We are treated to Myriam's deepest thoughts - including the dark stuff. The author really captures her very relatable postpartum stress, her distrust of other women, her complicated identity crisis that inevitably accompanies motherhood. Motherhood is a difficult, spiraling Thing that fucks with your emotional core, your very sense of self, and the portrayal here is refreshing.

And we are treated somewhat to Paul's perspective, as well. In fact, the marriage here strikes me as pretty realistic: imperfect, full of cracks, but not broken. And other perspectives are sprinkled throughout: Louise's fascinating landlord, her estranged child, her dead husband - each character is detailed and treated with care. And then there's Louise (I WANT TO KNOW MORE!) and her captivating descent into madness and obsession.

But seriously, I want to know more. I think I'm docking a star because Louise actually seemed a little - empty. Not flat, but not like funny, cracking, absurd, SPARKLY Annie Wilkes, you know? As far as baby killers go, Louise lacked a little ... something. She struck me as very sad and very closed. She still gave me chills.

Okay, it's way past my bedtime and I'm ending a 16+ hour travel day. My brain is scrambled. But I RECOMMEND THIS! I wish I understood French - I bet the original is spectacular.

The Perfect Nanny on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: Dare Me

4 stars. Dreamy. Smooth and silky like milk chocolate. More like dark chocolate - something with a slight bitter tingle. It doesn't remind me at all of my own adolescence; Megan Abbott painted something entirely new for me. But the slimy threads of emotion, and the extremes, are familiar. The impulses, the obsession, the rage, the fear and fascination - the knowledge that, as a young woman, you have no idea what you're doing, and you're terrified it'll show. Dare Me is all that and more.

Addy Hanlon has always been second-in-command to her BFF and captain of the cheer squad, Beth. But when a beautiful new coach arrives, enthralling and inspiring the girls, Beth feels threatened and lashes out accordingly. Addy spends the course of the novel completely ruled by her confusion as the battle unfolds; she's torn between her intense loyalty to Beth and the promise of something dangerously attractive from her coach. A bunch of vicious, dieting, female, teenage athletes? What could go wrong?

With Megan Abbott at the wheel, absolutely nothing. Her writing is so melodic, so interesting. I couldn't put it down. She does female rage so well, that's no secret, but I felt like she properly conveyed female desire here as well. Sometimes, especially as a teenage girl, you just want. You want power or control or attention or sex or revenge or more from life and you don't even know why or how but it drives you completely. I thought that was written quite well here.

And female friendships of course, ugly and beautiful and fleeting.

My girl crush on Megan Abbott (have you SEEN her Instagram feed?) only grows.

Dare Me on: Amazon | Goodreads