Feb9

New Valentine’s Day Nails

Posted on by
Standard
New Valentine’s Day Nails

Oh hey! This past Tuesday I enjoyed a wonderful pampering session at Elysian Nails and my fill appointment couldn’t have come a moment too soon. My nails rarely break but the week before my appointment two of them snapped and it was terrible! I’m genuinely unsure as to how it happened because it’s not like I was going rock climbing or doing anything crazy. One of the instances was simply picking up my laptop and the other was when I was putting groceries away. I walked into the salon with my tail between my legs but left with my head held high because my amazing tech made my claws good as new in a pretty Valentine’s Day motif. Check it out:

Nine times out of ten, I walk into Elysian Nails with no set in stone plan for my nail polish colors. Rather, I let the selection speak to me and tell me what I need. This time around, however, I was thinking a chocolate cherry motif for V-Day. Something sophisticated, chic, and different than the usual pink and red. Then, I saw pink and red and couldn’t resist lol! Hey, if the Valentine’s Day palette isn’t broken – don’t fix it. I couldn’t help but swoon over the cherry bomb red and the vivid hot pink and just knew they would pop with an OOTD for mine and Johnny’s V-Day date. I can’t wait to go to a Cupid’s Revenge haunted house together this weekend. I have no idea what it will entail but I know it’s going to be a blast! 😀

As my tech and I chatted away, I had a random moment where I felt so proud. She was new to the nail game when she started a year or so ago and I have been going to her faithfully unless she is booked up. My tech has really improved so much and it was incredibly apparent to me this time around. She was confident and detail oriented while working at a speedy quick pace. In under an hour she had replaced two broken nails, trimmed down my regrowth, created a sturdier base with a thicker application of acrylic, and sharpened my talons to perfection. In fact, I couldn’t believe the time as my nail polish dried and made it back to work with over fifteen minutes to spare. Our appointment was short and sweet and now I have V-Day nails that can’t be beat. I am already looking forward to my next fill to bust out some soft pastel hues for spring. ❤

Stay tuned for my Valentine’s Day OOTD, a haunted house review, and lots more fun coming soon on lifewithlilred!

What are your V-Day plans? Do you have any beauty appointments scheduled prior to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb8

Don’t Cry Over Spilled Coffee

Posted on by
Standard
Don’t Cry Over Spilled Coffee

Hello! I wanted to share a little story that happened to me a week or so ago. My beloved downstairs neighbor unfortunately fell and went to a rehab center after he was released from the hospital. I visited in both locations as often as I could and when I had a fully open morning I brought us coffee from Starbucks with one of my Christmas gift cards. Two venti iced coffees were the move and I didn’t even sip on mine in the car as the drive over was short. As I carried some extra supplies for him and our bevvies into the rehab center, I thought how badly it would suck if one of the drinks spilled. I suppose I must have manifested it because that is exactly what happened. SMH -_-

As I set down the drinks to sign into the center, one of them toppled over and it was like it happened in slow motion while I experienced the deja vu of what I just thought. I was happy it was my coffee that spilled but not so happy that it spilled everywhere. The reception desk was hit but it was primarily on the ground. After the coffee catastrophe, I could legit not apologize enough to the receptionist and she was SO unbelievably kind. As we both cleaned up the spill together, I was sure to tell her so and then she told me a story that went like this…

While shopping at Aldi, she accidentally dropped a glass jar of pasta sauce that shattered everywhere. She didn’t want to just leave the spill and a kind person in the aisle found an employee and they all cleaned it up together. I told her that she was the kind person in my own spill scenario and I could tell how happy it made her. My oopsie daisy probably happened right when her shift was starting and instead of it messing up her day, she wished me a better one. She also lamented over how sad it was that I didn’t even get a sip of my caffeine and I really appreciated that because it sucked just as badly as I imagined it lol.

All of this is to say that the nice receptionist paid forward the kindness that someone else gave her during her shopping trip and we can all learn from that. The world is a scary place right now and I think everyone needs all of the kindness that they can get. Even things that you think are little can be so helpful so pay someone a compliment. Hold the door open for someone. Bring a coffee to your coworker. Or simply listen when someone is having a bad day or has something on their mind. Whether you are helping someone mop up spilled coffee or bringing your neighbor a plate of dinner you cooked, it all makes a difference. Thanks to my receptionist hero’s bright attitude, this turned into a situation that wasn’t worth crying over spilled coffee. (Maybe only slightly internally!) Rather, it was a great reminder to keep the kindness going to the next person I encountered. ❤

Everyone has the power to turn someone else’s day around. Use it liberally and the bright side of life shines through!

Have you had any oopsie daisies recently? How did you fix it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb7

Lil Red Call To Action

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red Call To Action

Hi hi! If you noticed from my New Year’s Resolutions Follow Up, I did indeed start a new job. I am so happy to say that I am the new Social Media Manager for Empire Window Company in Solon, Ohio. They are a local business that has been doing window, door, and siding installations for the past sixty years. It might be a slight step outside of my comfort zone but if there is one thing that your girl knows how to do, it’s how to create content! I am incredibly excited to be able to work social media management again as my last situation was a complete bust. I feel very confident in saying that I think this is the company for me and that feels wonderful!

I would appreciate it SO so mucho if all of you would help a Lil Red out. Please give a follow to Empire Window Company on Facebook and on Instagram too @empirewindowco. I would love for all of you to see my handiwork as these pages get going! One of my goals has been to give social media management a final go and I have been working very hard on seizing this opportunity. It really is a gift and every interaction is a step in the right direction. I can’t wait to create and have fun with a brand new team and it would be the cherry on top for all of my dear readers to be a part of it. Many, many thanks!!

As a treat, here is me enjoying my OM-Cheese Burger from Applebees lolol:

How is your job going? Are you interested in starting a new job? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb6

Middle Class Fancy At Applebees

Posted on by
Standard
Middle Class Fancy At Applebees

Hello! Johnny and I only have streaming services so we don’t see commercials very often except for on Peacock. It’s mainly just insurance and medication commercials lol but sometimes we are gifted by seeing the new items on the menu at pizza shops and restaurants. The one that really caught our eye last week was the OM-Cheese Burger from Applebees. It is basically a burger placed in a bath of melted cheese and it looked absolutely beautiful. Johnny asked if I wanted to go get it for lunch the following weekend and my answer was a resounding YES. I was looking forward to it all week and it was a wonderful Middle Class Fancy afternoon on the town! Check it out:

Saturday was an exciting day not just because of Middle Class Fancy but because it was the Royal Rumble, baby! Every year we watch with our bestie and turn it into a big event. Our lunch at Applebees was the perfect way to fuel up for the big show! From start to finish, our experience was excellent – as per ushe. Our server was a delight, the drinks were just right, and our food was dynamite. I think I should start a career in poetry! We also were able to utilize their fantastic 2 for $25 deal for our meals that offers one appetizer and two entrees. You can’t beat that and we opted for the mozzarella sticks and two OM-Cheese Burgers. Our server wasn’t sure if they could make the entree with an Impossible Burger but they pulled through and I am eternally grateful. This dish was what dreams are made of.

I was completely starving when we went to lunch and our food arrived blessedly quick. As soon as that fajita plate was put in front of me, it was go time. Unlike Johnny, I am a fries first kind of girl because fries will never be better than when they are first placed in front of you. The French fries were crisp, salty, and were good until the very last one. Then, it was burger time. When I told people we were going to Applebees to try this concoction, the majority of responses were that it looked disgusting lol. I replied that you had to see past the initial disgust to get to the beauty inside and it was a very accurate sentiment! This cheeseburger was in a pool of ooey gooey queso dip and it was just divine. The burger was juicy, the buns were fluffy, and that cheese though! I err on the side of cheesy whenever the option is available and it was like this meal was made for me. It was so tasty and filling and I honestly could have benefited from a nap afterwards. Exactly how a Middle Class Fancy date should end! ❤

If you are a cheese fiend, the OM-Cheese Burger from Applebees is a must try. Get your Middle Class Fancy on and have a blast!!

What is your favorite chain restaurant? What is your least favorite commercial? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb5

How To Plan A Trip That Doesn’t Rely On The Weather

Posted on by
Standard
How To Plan A Trip That Doesn’t Rely On The Weather

Planning a trip that depends on good weather is such an optimistic personality trait. In some locations, it can make sense (like a beach or a desert, for example). But it also falls apart the second the forecast decides to act up, because of course it does. You do all the paper admin you need for your trip, be it visas for another country, renting cars, booking tickets, flights, boats, tours, hotels, and then everything you imagined you’d be doing in your head goes sideways because of the weather (well, the activities at least).

It’s great to make a full vacation schedule but it also is smart to plan for bad weather. Like it or not, it can definitely rain on your parade! What’s the best way to go about this? Keep on reading!

Build the Trip Like it Has Two Lanes:

The simplest way to stay sane is to plan a trip with two lanes: an outdoor lane and an indoor lane. It’s not exactly two fully scheduled itineraries, because that’s exhausting and nobody wants a vacation that feels like project management. See it more as Plan A and Plan B so you have two sets of options that can be swapped depending on the weather.

If you’re going to St. Annes on vacation or just coastal towns in general in the UK (as this is getting more common for tourists outside the UK), then the outdoor stuff could be cliff walks, beach time, visiting gardens, or walking in the cute touristy area. When it comes to indoor-oriented activities, you can check whats on Saint Annes local theater for live shows, look for shops, museums, or tasting sessions at wineries or restaurants.

Choose Indoor Plans that Still Feel Like the Destination:

A few examples were just mentioned above, but maybe you could consider them generic. But it seriously helps to pickout some destinations in advance that are indoor. If you want to visit London or Paris for the first time ever, sure, everyone wants to see the landmarks, but as you know, there’s famous indoor things to do as well. Like in London, there’s the Victoria and Albert museum that so many tourists flock to, and the Louvre in Paris, but they’re indoor activities, and they alone are like a destination. So, try to look around for that too for your upcoming trip. 

You Can’t Let Weather be a Dealbreaker:

You can’t control Mother Nature, and sometimes, you have no choice but to make the most out of the situation. Hopefully it’s not a horrible storm or anything, but just try and have fun anyways. Sure, if you’re camping or hiking during your trip, it can make it significantly less fun, and sometimes even full-on impossible, but for town and city trips at least, you can manage easily. 

Plan ahead for any bad weather during your travels and you will still have an amazing time indoor and out!

Featured Image By: Pexels Image

Feb5

V-Day Date Ideas

Posted on by
Standard
V-Day Date Ideas

Howdy! Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Are you and your SO ready for it? As per mine and Johnny’s tradition of never giving each other gifts on the day of, we have already gotten that part out of the way. In my defense, this actually wasn’t my idea or consistent pestering this time! Johnny’s friend sold him a PS5 on the cheap and he requested some help on that front for his gift. For my prezzie, I think we are going to go to a Valentine’s Day haunted house and I am really looking forward to that! Of course, we also will be including the first option on this list of V-Day Date Ideas as it is our all time favorite. Let’s discuss:

Middle Class Fancy:

Middle Class Fancy dates are mine and Johnny’s bread and butter and it goes a little something like this: Step 1) Pick out your favorite chain restaurant. An Applebees, Chili’s, Red Lobster, or Olive Garden is top tier. Step 2) Put on your Sunday best. Step 3) Eat and drink like kings. Step 4) Go to a movie afterwards. For our Middle Class Fancy event we will be visiting one of our go to chain restaurants and seeing the new Scream movie. If you are from the Midwest, I am sure you know a thing or two about a Middle Class Fancy night on the town and I can’t wait for our upcoming MCF festivities!

Upper Class Fancy (lol):

If Middle Class Fancy isn’t your thing, perhaps you will go the Upper Class Fancy route instead. Upper Class Fancy is all about the finer things in life. How about starting your date at a chic little cocktail bar followed by a meal at a not chain restaurant. Countless fine dining restaurants will be offering special Valentine’s Day dishes or couples experiences so be sure to investigate your local options. Rather than a movie, you could opt for a night at the theater, a spot of shopping, or an appointment for a couples massage or spa day. Upper Class Fancy dates are the opportunity to spoil each other so don’t be afraid to splurge on your big day out.

Local Events:

If you are stumped for ideas, look local! Maybe your partner is a romance movie connoisseur? There is sure to be a bar or restaurant offering trivia around that theme. Is your boo crafty? Find a workshop for candle making, scentology, or creating beautiful bouquets. A fantastic cook? Learn how to make a brand new dish at a cooking class! Hobby based gifts and dates are always sure to please and also ranks highly in the brownie points department. It shows that you are listening to your main squeeze, care about their interests, and are invested in helping expand them. How sweet is that? ❤

A Night In:

Some people think that a V-Day out is a racket and, honestly, they’re not wrong. Where you go is sure to be crowded, a restaurant might be fully booked, and stores will be completely picked over. To avoid that, bring the date night in. DoorDash your favorite meal and rent a movie that’s in theaters to bypass the hubbub. Make your own wine and paint night with a YouTube tutorial video. Bake and decorate a cake or make chocolates. Craft your own cocktails or do at home spa treatments. No matter where you go, Valentine’s Day is all about enjoying each other’s company and there is no place like home to do so.

Something New:

Tired of the same old? Try something new! If you have exhausted your V-Day date ideas, step outside of your comfort zone. Shake things up with a ballroom dancing class. Go to an escape room or a rage room. Take a note from mine and Johnny’s book and go to a love themed haunted house! Hit up an arcade bar, fly high at a trampoline park, book a hotel for the night and soak in the hot tub or make a splash in the pool. A new experience together offers the element of surprise which makes for a particularly exciting date. Think about the events or activities that your partner has always wanted to try and go for it!

No matter how you spend Valentine’s Day, it will be special because you’re with someone you love. Have so much fun!

What are your Valentine’s Day plans? What’s a perfect date night like for you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb4

January 2026 Finishes

Posted on by
Standard
January 2026 Finishes

Hello everyone and TGIF! And by that I mean thank god it’s February!!! Is it just me or did January feel like it lasted five months? Lol it was cold, grey, and the days dragged on with no end in sight. Prior to this insane temperature drop, I was feeling a-okay about winter but all I have to say is: Is it spring yet? I need sixty and sunny like yesterday! Before January can be kissed goodbye or more like kicked out until next year, let’s discuss my beauty finishes for the month:

Would I Use Again?

Bath & Body Works Vampire Blood Body Cream: YES

Avon Cucumber Melon Body Wash: NO

Bath & Body Works Calypso Clementine Body Lotion: YES

Bath & Body Works Blue Raspberry Burst Body Wash: YES

Garnier Micellar Water: MAYBE

Precision Beauty Vitamin C + Collagen Serum: YES

Why/Why Not?

B&BW Products: I am a Bath & Body Works gal through and through and I had a delightful medley of empties from there in January. I had my favorite Halloween scent of Vampire Blood, enjoyed a burst of summertime citrus with Calypso Clementine, and was LOVING the Blue Raspberry Burst body wash. In my humble opinion, blue flavors are the best but Blue Raspberry reigns supreme. Blue Raspberry Burst smells exactly like an Icee from the movie theater and it is definitely one of my new favorites. It’s different while still smelling delicious and I will be keeping my eyes peeled for more when the B&BW summer lines drop!

Avon Body Wash: In case you haven’t noticed, I am extremely loyal to my B&BW products and use them *almost* exclusively. Minus this Cucumber Melon body wash from Avon! This was gifted to me and I thought I would give it a try. It was okay and basically a smell alike to B&BW’s Cucumber Melon scent. However, I wish that I used this product when the weather gets warmer because it really dried my skin out and the frigid temperatures made it even worse. My skin never feels dry after using B&BW shower gel, rather super nourished and hydrated and I couldn’t wait to use them again after finishing this bottle. It took me one month of daily use to do so.

Garnier Micellar Water: Like my B&BW goodies, I am fiercely loyal to my Evoluderm micellar water. It is simply the best at removing makeup and hydrating my skin and it is a staple in my morning and nighttime beauty routine. Unfortunately, TJMaxx doesn’t carry it all of the time and I had to settle for a bottle of Garnier micellar water, instead. It will continue to be my runner up brand when I can’t get my hands on Evoluderm but it’s not like I love it. The Garnier micellar water just lacks the oomph of Evoluderm. I noticed I had to scrub hard to remove makeup and it still wasn’t completely gone and it pales in comparison to the hydration of my go to brand. Fine in a bind but not my fave!

Precision Beauty Serum: I cannot say enough good things about the Precision Beauty serums and have been using them for the past several months. Each bottle lasts me close to five weeks with twice daily use and I have had nothing but positive results. The Vitamin C + Collagen was especially nice during the dreary days as it provided such a big radiance boost. And, despite collagen being a primary ingredient, it didn’t dry my skin out. In fact, it has never felt better! I have used several different versions of their serums and all of them are great so I highly recommend trying one for yourself. 🙂

And, with that, smell ya later January. Let’s move on to brighter days ahead!

Which products did you use up this month? What are your thoughts on any of the above products if you have used them before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb3

New Year’s Resolutions Follow Up

Posted on by
Standard
New Year’s Resolutions Follow Up

Hi! I like to make New Year’s Resolutions every year. They are never anything major, just small goals that I know I can achieve. So, rather, I like to make New Year’s Small Goals every year lol. We are a month into 2026 and I’m pleased to report that my goals have been going swimmingly. I might not meet each of the four tasks I set for myself every day, but I am definitely doing better than I did before and I’ll take it! Baby steps, baby. Let’s follow up and see where I’m at:

Replace Screen Time:

This is probably the most difficult Resolution I have because it’s all too easy to put on a show after work or scroll endlessly on my phone. Especially when the weather is freezing cold! I’m more lenient on myself for evening screen time but I think I have made some big improvements in the morning. Normally if I’m all done working in the AM and have time to kill, I’ll put the TV on and watch until I have to leave for my in person job. Now I’m spending more time scheduling posts far in advance on lifewithlilred, creating content for TikTok, and reading as much as I can of whatever book I’m tackling. It has made my mornings feel much more productive to do something I enjoy like content creating as opposed to just being done once my tasks are done. I might not be as committed to replacing my evening screen time but I think this is a good trade off. 🙂

Keep Moving:

When the weather is warm you can almost always catch me outside walking and hiking with my clients. It’s my favorite form of exercise and there is nothing like enjoying the great outdoors and feeling the sunshine on your face. Of course, being outside is a lot harder to do in single degree temps but I am making an effort. Even when it’s REALLY cold out, I am still bundling up to walk the family dog around the block. I have also been consistently going to the gym with my brother to put in some laps on the track. It isn’t the home workouts I intended on but that’s okay! I was able to modify my go to work out despite the weather and I feel great about that because it’s a lot more than I would normally do in the winter.

Mental Boost:

Engaging in more positive self talk was one of my goals and I think this is the one I’m doing the best at and I can tell! I have always had a hard time speaking kindly to myself and am my toughest critic by far. So, when negative thoughts begin to form I have been trying my best to redirect it. Rather than lament about going to work, I turn it around to that I’m going to have an excellent day. Or, perhaps something nice might happen and instead of questioning the motive or my worthiness, I shift it to “why not me?”. Thinking things that allow me to smile has made my work days go by quicker and I feel like I am enjoying myself way more than normal. A simple change of phrase has been most helpful and I am working hard to focus on maintaining more positive self talk. Soon, it will be second nature!

A New Job?!

I had a job interview in the middle of January and guess what?! Your girl is back in the social media management game and I could not be happier! I am so excited to be partnering with a local business and can’t wait to see what kind of fun we create together. We are still in the preliminary stages at the moment but be sure to keep checking in soon so you can take a look at the pages I’ll be revamping. Hurray!

After examining my New Year’s Resolutions closer, I can see that I’m doing a much better job than I thought and I can’t wait to keep improving more!

How are your New Year’s Resolutions going? Is there a small goal you are working towards? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb2

What Have We Been Watching?

Posted on by
Standard
What Have We Been Watching?

Hi! It has been colder than a MF in the A-K-Rowdy and it’s literally painful to be outside. Snow + single digit temps = me not leaving the house. Wow, I’m great at math! This is the kind of weather to do nothing but stay inside during and I’m honestly so fine with it. I can always get down with hibernating AKA watching TV all day, cuddling in a heated blanket, and only getting up from the couch when I require the bathroom lol. We have definitely been glued to the TV and will dethaw in the spring. Until then, we’ll stay posted up watching the following:

The Traitors:

My blogging bestie and I are not only Gemini Twins but TV Twins too. We love watching the same documentaries, reality shows, and just pure fun shows together then spending all Saturday afternoon discussing them over FaceTime. During our last chat she did the best job that she could have at describing The Traitors to me and the conversation ended with “you just have to watch it”. So we did and we are addicted! I am a huge fan of a good whodoneit and that is The Traitors to the T. A houseful of C-list celebrities with three “traitors” and the remainder being “faithfuls”. It is up to the faithfuls to determine who the traitors are as they “murder” off the housemates one by one. There are challenges, round table detective sessions, and the incomparable Alan Cumming as the host. This show is a complete blast and they are actually casting regular people in the next season. I plan on applying so maybe you’ll see me on there! Hey, it doesn’t hurt to try. 😀

Teen Wolf:

If you follow me on Facebook (Sarah Mushenheim) then you already KNOW that I am obsessed with MTV’s Teen Wolf series. It’s so damn good and I genuinely can’t believe that I haven’t given it the attention it deserves until now. My client got me hooked and I look forward to watching an episode or two every morning. Long story short: Teenage boy gets bitten by werewolf, teenage boy falls in love with girl, girl’s family are werewolf hunters. It might sound like your classic run of the mill show directed to teenagers but it’s very dark and very well done. The actors are also excellent! Hello baby Dylan O’Brien and holy hot-tastic Tyler Hoechlin. On a separate note, I can’t wait to see Dylan O’Brien in Send Help – my mind was blown when I realized it was Stiles!

The Goldbergs:

Before bed Johnny and I will usually put on Superstore, Abbott Elementary, or The Office. We have also enjoyed watching Stumble, Animal Control, and St. Denis Medical. Johnny suggested The Goldbergs as our new pre-bed show and it has just been okay for me. He knows how much I adore Wendi McLendon-Covey in legit everything she does (St. Denis Medical included!) and thought it would be a good match as she plays the Goldberg family matriarch. Despite my deep love for her and Jeff Garlin as the father, there is just something about this show that I can’t get into. Normally, the shows we like to watch have me in stitches no matter how many times I’ve seen each episode. The Goldbergs is lucky to get one chuckle every time we watch it! I am a fan of the parents and, of course, Big Tasty but the rest of the cast leaves a lot to me desired and also the kid that plays Adam annoys me so much lol. Not my favorite and wouldn’t recommend it!

Documentaries:

It’s no surprise that your favorite armchair detective delights every time a new documentary is out and my blogging bestie and I watch them immediately. We recently finished season two of Shiny Happy People, and breezed through the new Elizabeth Smart documentary on Netflix as well as The Cult of The Real Housewife. All of them were great and the perfect bite size documentaries to watch in one sitting as they’re either three episodes long or a little longer than an hour and a half. Unfortunately, we watch the new docs so quickly that we run out and are left with nothing. We would love some recommendations – the dishier the better. 😀

It’s so nice to return home from work, put a show on, and relax the evening away with our beloved TV to keep us company! ❤

What have you been watching lately? Are there any new shows you are looking forward to? (I can’t wait for the America’s Next Top Model documentary!) I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb1

Lil Red’s Book Club: Anatomy Of An Alibi By Ashley Elston Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Book Club: Anatomy Of An Alibi By Ashley Elston Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing Anatomy Of An Alibi by Ashley Elston. I have been reading a fair share of Stephen King and was excited to give Anatomy Of An Alibi a go. I love horror but I also love a twisty thriller and was ready for a change of pace. I have also never read anything by Ashley Elston and it’s fun to explore new authors. I suspect this will be the last thing I read by Elston, however, because this book was not it for me in the slightest. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Anatomy Of An Alibi for car accidents and general violence. Now, let’s get to it:

From the outside, Camille’s life looks picture perfect. She is married to a successful defense lawyer named Ben, has a gorgeous home, and a bank account with more money than she knows what to do with. Everything would be perfect if the people in her life were too. Ben is a controlling husband who watches her every step and tracks her phone. This is rich because Camille has done nothing wrong but has every reason to believe that Ben is up to no good. He is secretive, spends hours tucked away in his home office, and their marriage is disintegrating. She could divorce him but there is a clause in the prenup she signed that she can only have her cut if there is wrongdoing. IE: Ben cheating on her or abusing her.

After some snooping, Camille thinks she has her way out. She finds a woman named Aubrey’s name, home address, and work address on a napkin in Ben’s briefcase. Jackpot! She’ll meet the woman he is cheating on her with, have her admit it, and get this divorce moving. Camille decides to pay Aubrey a visit at the bar she tends at and learns that she is not a cheater at all. She only knows Ben’s name as he’s somewhat of a local celebrity. But Ben certainly knows her.

Aubrey was orphaned at sixteen when her parents got hit by a drunk driver. Paul Granger is the man who was convicted of the hit and run but he has maintained his innocence. In a letter he wrote to Aubrey, he informs her that there has been new evidence in his case that was given to him by a dirty cop. A dirty cop who is dying and wishes to make good with anyone he harmed. With this information, Aubrey makes it her mission to uncover who really killed her parents while Camille focuses on finding a way to escape her husband.

As the story weaves on, the ladies find common ground and must work together to prove that Ben isn’t who he says he is. He either killed Aubrey’s parents or is covering it up. What they need is a plan to prove Paul’s innocence and force Ben to spill what he knows. So they concoct a perfect alibi. One that will allow Aubrey to pose as Camille while Camille spies on Ben through security cameras. Then, the unthinkable happens. Ben is murdered while Aubrey and Camille touch down at their meet up spot and both of their lives are now on the line. Will they get the information they need? Or is one of them going down for murder? Read Anatomy Of An Alibi to find out! (Or don’t lol)

I absolutely love thriller novels and I say the twistier the better. I revel in the surprises and being at the edge of my seat. Anatomy Of An Alibi was twisty, yes, but it was a mess. This book was so incredibly convoluted and read like the twists were just being thrown in for the sake of having them. Every page felt like an eternity to read for a story that just wasn’t that good to begin with. This book was exhausting and, to be frank, poorly written. For all of the poorly crafted plot twists, there was a character that was equally as poorly crafted and I didn’t care for any of them. Normally I can live with one or the other but when both the plot and characters don’t move me, reading feels like a chore rather than something enjoyable.

I finished this book during my surprise snow day and almost didn’t bother with it. It was boring and predictable. The only saving grace was the budding relationship between Aubrey and one of her roommates. Who doesn’t like a little romance?! Other than those fiery moments, Anatomy Of An Alibi was a snooze fest through and through. Perhaps it would have been better written by another author because I think Ashley Elston bit off a bit more than she could chew with this book!

Overall, I am going to rate Anatomy Of An Alibi with a zero out of ten stars. Do not waste your time on this one because it was one of the worst books I have read in recent memory!

What is your favorite twisty thriller? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah