Guest Review by Jessica: Everything We Lost by Valerie Geary

Summary:

Lucy Durant was only fourteen-years-old when she lost her older brother. First to his paranoid delusions as he became increasingly obsessed with UFOs and government conspiracies. Then, permanently, when he walked into the desert outside Bishop, California, and never returned.

Now on the tenth anniversary of Nolan's mysterious disappearance, Lucy is still struggling with guilt and confusion--her memories from that period are blurry and obscured by time, distance, and alcohol. Now an adult, she's stuck in a holding pattern, hiding out at her father's house, avoiding people, and doing whatever she can to keep herself from thinking about Nolan. But when a series of unsettling events leads Lucy back to Bishop, she is forced to reconcile with her estranged mother and come to terms with the tangled memories of her past to discover what really happened to her brother all those years ago.

Told in Lucy and Nolan's alternating voices, Everything We Lost is a psychological mystery exploring family, beliefs, obsessions, the nature of memory, and fear of the unknown--a haunting, compelling story that will resonate with readers long after the last page is turned.

Publication Date: August 22, 2017

Jessica's Review:

3.5/5 Stars

  

I was torn with this book. The blurb was really interesting and I love a good mystery, but I had a hard time getting into this book because the whole alien/UFO aspect just doesn't work for me. I had a hard time liking or caring what happened to Nolan, but I had a harder time liking Lucy which is a problem since she's the main character. The story and the details were well written, but everything with the characters bothered me, both main characters and side characters.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy for review purposes!

Guest Review by Jessica: Sister, Sister by Sue Fortin

From the bestselling author of The Girl Who Lied

Alice: Beautiful, kind, manipulative, liar.

Clare: Intelligent, loyal, paranoid, jealous.

Clare thinks Alice is a manipulative liar who is trying to steal her life.

Alice thinks Claire is jealous of her long-lost return and place in their family.

One of them is telling the truth. The other is a maniac. Two sisters. One truth.

Publication Date: January 6, 2017

Jessica's Review:

Sister Sister by Sue Fortin had me hooked starting with Claire being in the hospital wondering if she was crazy. Then it went on as a heartbreaking story of a family torn apart without reason. A long lost sister found, a family reunited, then lies lies and more lies! 

This psychological thriller had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It kept me guessing with every page turn. Every time I thought I had it figured out the plot would twist and turn and have me backwards again. Up until the very last chapter I was engulfed in trying to figure out what the truth really was and who was behind all the deception. Definitely 5 stars for me!

5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy for review purposes!

Review: The Twilight Wife by A.J. Banner

From bestselling author A.J. Banner comes a dazzling new novel of psychological suspense in the vein of S.J. Watson’s Before I Go to Sleep and Mary Kubica’s The Good Girl that questions just how much we can trust the people around us.

Thirty-four-year-old marine biologist Kyra Winthrop remembers nothing about the diving accident that left her with a complex form of memory loss. With only brief flashes of the last few years of her life, her world has narrowed to a few close friendships on the island where she lives with her devoted husband, Jacob.

But all is not what it seems. Kyra begins to have visions—or are they memories?—of a rocky marriage, broken promises, and cryptic relationships with the island residents, whom she believes to be her friends.

As Kyra races to uncover her past, the truth becomes a terrifying nightmare. A twisty, immersive thriller, The Twilight Wife will keep readers enthralled through the final, shocking twist.

Publication Date: December 27, 2016

I’ve been on a streak with really good psychological suspense novels lately and I was so thrilled to see it continue with The Twilight Wife. I never really guessed the truth until the big reveal during the climax. The pacing was excellent and I read through the novel from start to finish in less than three nights. I loved that the story was told from the point of view of an unreliable narrator and the reader has to struggle to piece together Kyra’s past with very little to go on. My only complaints are a few subplots were never resolved and I wanted a little more tension during the finale. Otherwise, a fantastic thrilling read!

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy for review purposes!

Review: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti

A teenage misfit named Hawthorn Creely inserts herself in the investigation of missing person Lizzie Lovett, who disappeared mysteriously while camping with her boyfriend. Hawthorn doesn't mean to interfere, but she has a pretty crazy theory about what happened to Lizzie. In order to prove it, she decides to immerse herself in Lizzie's life. That includes taking her job... and her boyfriend. It's a huge risk — but it's just what Hawthorn needs to find her own place in the world.

Publication Date: January 3, 2017

Talk about an unexpected delightful book! I loved this story, even after finding out what Hawthorn’s theory was about Lizzie’s disappearance. It was a definite “jump the shark” moment, but Hawthorn was so freaking likable, the premise worked. There were some moments of heartbreaking realism that had me choking up, especially toward the end. If you love quirky YA novels, then you must pick up this book! Hands down this was a five star read for me!

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy for review purposes!