Tag Archives: thriller

Feb4

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Housemaid Is Watching By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Housemaid Is Watching By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Today, in a spoiler free setting, we are going to discuss the third book in The Housemaid series by Freida McFadden called The Housemaid Is Watching. I have heard mixed reviews about the third installation of the series so I was expecting a lackluster read. I was so wrong because this ended up being my favorite one in the trilogy after devouring The Housemaid and The Housemaid’s Secret! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Housemaid Is Watching for violence and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

We reunite with Millie over a decade later and she has officially made it. She has two children with Enzo named Ada and Nico and they are happily married and moving to their dream home in a quaint col-de-sac. Can they afford it? Barely. Are the kids thrilled about moving in the middle of the school year? Hard no. But all Millie has ever wanted is a quiet, normal life and she finally has it. As the family gets settled into their new digs, Millie can’t help but think how incredibly lucky she is – minus the minor sense of dread after meeting her new neighbors, of course.

In the col-de-sac, there are two homes next to Millie’s. One belongs to a woman named Janice and her son, Spencer. Janice is the neighborhood busy body who is stern and rarely has a kind word for anyone. She spends her days at home and you can almost always catch her looking out of her window. We also have Suzette and Jonathan Lowell. They are youngish, very wealthy, and might be a good fit together. Millie can’t tell, though, because Suzette cannot take her eyes and hands off of Enzo.

The days go by in suburbia and Millie notices a lot of changes. 1) She is constantly hearing scratching sounds in the middle of the night. 2) Enzo seems to be spending a lot of time with Suzette. And 3) Her son, Nico, is showing some alarming shifts in his normal, happy go lucky demeanor. After breaking the Lowell’s window with a baseball, Millie hoped that Nico would learn some responsibility by doing chores at their home to pay for the damage. Nico doesn’t improve but only worsens by getting into fistfights and withdrawing from his family.

Millie has so much on her mind between her son’s deteriorating mental health and her growing confidence that Enzo is cheating on her. He is working in Suzette’s yard almost every day, she saw him talking to her outside at ten at night, Enzo returned home in the early morning hours smelling like her perfume, and Suzette all but undresses him with her eyes every chance she can get. Millie has had enough. She marches across the lawn to confront Suzette and enters the home when she doesn’t get an answer. She doesn’t see Suzette, but a body on the ground and lots of blood. Not again. Who has met their demise? And whodoneit in the most shocking reveal of the series? Read The Housemaid Is Watching to find out!

I understand why The Housemaid Is Watching might have been a miss for some fans of the series. It is very different than the setting and general plot that we have grown used to. However, that is why I liked it so much! In fact, after completing the second book, I found myself hoping that the third one would throw a curveball and it delivered. While I loved plucky young Millie in her vigilante glory days, it was a welcome change of pace to see where she ended up well after the fact. I suppose I would have liked to know a bit more about the in between from then and now, but it was still a fully cohesive read.

What I liked the best about The Housemaid Is Watching was the grand reveal. I did get some parts of it right but not all of it and I literally couldn’t believe my eyes! I wouldn’t say it shocked me as much as the reveal in The Housemaid’s Secret because I had no idea what was going on in that one. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t still really good, though. And, finally, another great part about this book is the reintroduction of a few characters that you will totally not see coming, tying the series together in a perfect little bow.

Overall, I am going to rate The Housemaid Is Watching with a ten out of ten stars. It was my favorite of the series so it deserves the highest recommendation!

What did you think about The Housemaid series? What do you think about the movie casting? 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: The Housemaid’s Secret By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Housemaid’s Secret By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing the second book in The Housemaid series by Freida McFadden called The Housemaid’s Secret. Like its predecessor, I devoured this one in a few days. Unlike its predecessor, this one left me absolutely shook because I did not see anything in The Housemaid’s Secret coming! This was an excellent change of pace as I literally predicted the first book in its entirety less than fifty pages in lol. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Housemaid’s Secret for violence and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

We reunite with Millie at her new housekeeping/nanny position for yet another wealthy family. Life is good. She has a new boyfriend, is taking classes at a community college, and has steady work. Until she gets fired, anyways. Back to square one and with a criminal record, Millie begins an endless loop of job interviews and doesn’t hear back from any of them. Then, she gets a phone call from a Douglas Garrick as he and his wife, Wendy, are interested in her services.

Millie makes the trip to the Garrick’s lavish penthouse apartment and expects to be greeted by the lady of the house. Rather, she interviews with Douglas. He says that Wendy has been incredibly unwell and that she spends most of her time in the guest room resting. Normally, Wendy would handle the housework but has requested the extra help as she recovers. The job includes cleaning, cooking, running errands, and the most important rule of all: Do not bother Wendy if her door is shut. Millie accepts her new position and is eager to start. She needs the money, badly.

As Millie settles into her new gig, she notices that there really isn’t much to do at Chez Garrick. The house is essentially already spotless, but she cleans anyways as Wendy spends her day in bed. Next on Millie’s to do list is laundry and it is then that she does spot a spot. Spots of blood on the collar of Wendy’s nightgown. Immediately, Millie is suspicious and her “battered wife” senses fly off the charts. Why was Wendy bleeding from her face or neck? Why has Wendy not even introduced herself yet? What does her husband have to do with it?

Every time Millie cleans at the Garricks, she tries to knock on Wendy’s door and is told to go away. That doesn’t stop her from listening in every time she passes the guest room, though. She has heard crying, screaming, and shattering but has never laid eyes on Wendy. Then, one day, Millie notices a trail of blood on the ground going from Wendy’s room to the bathroom. Like a punch in the gut, she sees a red, bloody hand print on the sink. It’s time for Millie to take action.

Millie pounds on Wendy’s door and threatens to call the police if she cannot get visual confirmation that she is okay. Finally, the door opens and Millie sees the elusive Mrs. Garrick for the first time. It takes her breath away. Wendy is emaciated, her face is badly bruised, and she has a split lip. Now, this is not Millie’s first experience with an abused wife. In fact, since her stint at the Winchester home, she has helped other wives leave their violent husbands. And, now, she knows that she must help Wendy too – by any means necessary. Millie is certain that Douglas is a dangerous man, but is he really? Read The Housemaid’s Secret to find out!

The Housemaid’s Secret was a wild ride and Freida McFadden truly outdid herself. The first Housemaid book was essentially “crazy husband with a secret room” 101. Like many people, I’m sure, I was expecting more of the same in the sequel. This was not the case at all and McFadden flipped the formula on its head. I’m so glad she did because The Housemaid’s Secret was infinitely better than the first. I legit had no idea what was going to happen next in this book and it made for a very exciting read.

In The Housemaid’s Secret, we were really able to see Millie come into her own and she is a formidable heroine. Of course, I liked her in the first book but I LOVED her in the second. Millie is strong in so many different ways and, oh my goodness, is she funny too. The beauty of Millie, though, is that she isn’t just a tough vigilante for hurt wives. She can be soft, gentle, and vulnerable and it makes her character highly dimensional. At the end of the day, Millie is going to do whatever TF she wants to do and I cannot wait to see where this reckless abandon takes her in the third book.

Overall, I am going to rate The Housemaid’s Secret with a nine out of ten stars. Very rarely do I find a sequel to be better than the first book of a series but this was the exception. I just got the third book from the library so stay tuned for another new Book Club installment soon!

What are you currently reading? 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

Jan22

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Housemaid By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Housemaid By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello! Every year, I like to spoil myself with a Christmas gift and I knew just what I wanted: The completed set of Preacher! I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth back into one of my favorite graphic novel series and that meant waiting for all of them to ship. In the meantime, I had nothing to read and noticed that my mom had a copy of The Housemaid by Freida McFadden sitting on the table. I decided to crack it open and I was immediately in. Unfortunately, the book was due to be returned the following day but I still wanted to see it through. I didn’t have to wait long for the book at the library and devoured it in days. In a spoiler free setting, as always, let’s discuss. However, before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Housemaid for domestic violence and highly disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Millie is an ex-convict who is living in her car and recently got fired from her job at a bar. As per her parole, she needs a new job and fast. She applies here, there, and everywhere and by some miracle, gets an interview with a Nina Winchester for a live in housekeeping position. The job seems too good to be true: Cleaning, cooking, occasional care for Nina’s daughter, and a roof over her head. Millie felt satisfied with her interview but didn’t hear back from Nina immediately. Then, after another agonizing week of calling her car her home, Millie got the call. She’s in!

The next day, Millie heads to the Winchester mansion as a new employee. As she walks to the door, she expects a warm greeting from the landscaper, Enzo. Rather, she gets a message from him in Italian that she is in danger. Okay… That was weird, but she needs this job and into the home she goes. Nina gives her the lay of the land, including Millie’s new bedroom – a tiny attic with a single cot, dresser, a window that doesn’t open, and a door that can only lock from the outside. Once again, weird but did I mention that Millie needs this job?

Despite her less than luxurious accommodations, Millie is determined to make the most of this opportunity. She likes Nina and her dreamboat husband Andrew, she’s not opposed to hard work, and she doesn’t want to go back to jail. However, after one day of work, she notices oddities in Nina’s behavior and they don’t let up. She accuses Millie of throwing out her PTA meeting notes and destroys the kitchen trying to find it. She tells Millie the wrong location to pick her daughter up from school only for her to learn that she doesn’t need a ride after all. Millie is gifted with Nina’s old clothes and is then threatened with a call to the police when Nina claims she stole them.

Millie isn’t the only one to notice Nina’s strange behavior. Her gossipy friends find pleasure in laughing behind her back about it. Andrew, on the other hand, finds no humor in the situation and as he and Nina grow apart, him and Millie get closer. Millie knows it’s wrong to be pining after a married man, but Andrew just seems so sad and dejected and she doesn’t understand how such a good person could be married to someone like Nina. He should be with Millie, instead. As their forbidden love blossoms, Nina is slowly but surely edged out. With the crazy wife out of the picture, everything should be perfect, right? So wrong! What happens next? Read The Housemaid to find out!

As you all know, I love playing detective. I like to consider myself a decent sleuth and have a pretty high success rate in figuring out grand reveals well before they happen. In the case of The Housemaid, I knocked it out of the park. To the letter, I predicted Every. Single. Twist. that arose and it was a real feather in my cap lol. I tend to not like books that are “too easy” to figure out as I revel in a super shocking grand reveal. However, I still really liked The Housemaid and considered it to be unputdownable.

Regardless of essentially knowing how the plot was going to play out, it was a story that was juicy AF. I was invested in the characters, but also how the book itself was written. It felt like there was some minor twist or clue in every single page and it kept me turning them until there was none left. Freida McFadden expertly crafted this book because she truly gave you everything you needed to know. Whether you used it or not was up to you. I did and it didn’t make The Housemaid any less enjoyable and I never thought I would say that about a book where I saw the ending coming from a mile away.

Overall, I am going to rate The Housemaid with an eight out of ten stars. I wouldn’t call it my favorite book I’ve ever read, but I highly recommend it and can’t wait to read the sequel!

What are you currently reading? 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

Oct24

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Boyfriend By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Boyfriend By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing a thriller by Freida McFadden called The Boyfriend. Even though I figured out the grand reveal well ahead of time, it was a pretty good and fast paced read. I finished it in three sittings! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Boyfriend for assault, violence, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

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Sydney lives in New York City and is in her mid thirties. Saying she is unlucky in love is an understatement and she is well aware of the ticking of her biological clock. One of her best friends, Gretchen, has found a great new boyfriend. Her other bestie, Bonnie, who has a date almost every night has even found a dreamy guy to cozy up with regularly. So why can’t Sydney? As she scrolls aimlessly through dating apps, she solidifies plans for a dinner out with a match and is actually excited. Until her date arrives, that is.

What should have been Sydney’s handsome suitor turns out to be a catfish named Kevin. Sydney decides to see the date through because they did have some semblance of a connection over text. This nicety proved to be a bad idea and after their dinner, Kevin attempts to assault her on the way home. What was an already terrible situation could have been so much worse had in not been for a Mystery Man who came to Sydney’s rescue. When he looked at her, she felt sparks flying but she never even got his name.

Sydney is officially back to the drawing board and continues to go about her normal routine. Work, dating apps, and outings with her girls. Everything is almost back to status quo, until one of her best friends is brutally murdered in her own apartment. Of course, Sydney swears off the dating apps – for a while anyways. After what she considers an appropriate amount of time off for grieving, she has a coffee date with a new match. They are having a wonderful time during their meet up, but then Sydney suffers a nosebleed that sends him running out the door. Sydney is left with the bill and in a state of shock – Mystery Man is in the coffee shop and he is approaching her!

Finally, the man she has been pining over since their first encounter is talking to her and his name is Tom. He is a total babe, respectful, and a doctor too. Could things be any more perfect? As they pursue a relationship, Sydney has a hard time thinking otherwise – other than some glaring red flags, that is. Maybe, Tom is just a full fledged commitmentphobe. Or perhaps he’s harboring his own dark secrets that Sydney is none the wiser to. All she knows is that Tom might not be who she thinks he is. So who is her Mystery Man, really? Read The Boyfriend to find out!

I wouldn’t go as far as to say that The Boyfriend was the best book I have ever read. There was, however, a lot that I liked about it. As you all know, I love a book with alternating narrators and this one went back and forth between present day Sydney and Tom in the past. This really added to the sense of urgency revolving around Sydney because every time we circled back to Tom’s childhood, we learned a new disturbing fact. While we could see things for what they were, she had no idea and it made her situation that much more dire. The grand reveal was also quite the shocking one despite my super sleuthing.

Where this book fell short for me was in terms of characters. When I consider a “good” book, I think about ones where I felt really connected with the characters. The Boyfriend lacked this significantly. Sydney was a very milquetoast leading lady and read as completely desperate more often that not. Tom, on the other hand, was your typical “love interest with a dark past” and it was rather stereotypical as opposed to something fresh and new. This was too bad because the plot was definitely one I was interested in but the characters lacked that special something to really drive it home.

Overall, I am going to rate The Boyfriend with a six out of ten stars. If you are looking for a decent quick read, I recommend it. If you are on the hunt for a book with a bit more oomph, then it is one you can certainly skip on!

What are you currently reading? 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

Jun30

Lil Red’s Book Club: None Of This Is True By Lisa Jewell Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: None Of This Is True By Lisa Jewell Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to *finally* a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club. Between the craziness of life and my new job, it was difficult to find time to read and I preferred to spend my limited downtime watching Degrassi lol. Then, my sister texted me asking if I wanted to borrow a book that she considered to be unputdownable. It is called None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell. I must say, my sister was spot on because I couldn’t put it down if you paid me and my hunger for reading has come back a thousandfold. Before we begin our discussion in a spoiler free setting, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning on None Of This Is True for abuse in all forms, murder, and highly disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

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On the day you were born, countless other children were being born on the same day in the same hospital as you. Have you ever met any of those birthday twins before? This is where our story begins. On the day of Josie Fair’s forty-fifth birthday, she decides she would like to do something different to celebrate. She suggests to her way older husband, Walter, a dinner out at a posh bar – a place they would never step foot in before. As they enjoy their meal, another birthday girl is having a large gathering with friends. She is named Alix Summer, a famous podcaster who is also turning forty-five.

Josie is instantly drawn to glamorous Alix and visits the ladies room at the same time as her, sparking the introduction as “birthday twins”. Upon returning home from dinner, Josie can’t stop thinking about Alix and does a deep dive for her online. She listens to all of her podcasts, scours social media, and fantasizes about the wonderful life Alix lives with her handsome husband, beautiful children, and luxurious home. This is in stark contrast to Josie’s life with a geriatric husband, adult children who want nothing to do with her, and a shabby flat. Josie wants to do something different for her forty-fifth birthday and she decides that Alix is the one to help her. Alix is going to make a podcast about Josie’s life.

Thanks to social media, Josie knows just where to track down Alix and make it seem like another chance encounter. She plans their “bump in” for when she takes her dog on a walk, right by the school that Alix’s children attend. From there, Josie and Alix meet the following day. Josie pitches her idea to Alix about a podcast that talks about women who are in the process of breaking free from an unhappy life. The star being none other than Josie herself. Alix is strangely captivated by Josie and her odd disposition and, with her previous podcast series just wrapping up, she figures “why not?”.

The birthday twins begin meeting up regularly to record episodes in Alix’s swanky recording studio. But, to get a sense of where Josie is at now, they must start at the beginning. Josie’s entire life has been riddled with hardship, a sense of not belonging, and situations that would break the coldest of hearts. Alix can’t get enough – so much so that she is blinded to anything off about Josie. Strange comments are brushed off, missing items throughout the home are chalked up to the kids misplacing them, and a general sense of unease gets pushed to the side.

As Josie and Alix delve deeper into the podcast, plot holes develop through the other people in Josie’s life that Alix interviews. They paint Josie as unstable. As someone who lives in her own world and tells her “truth” liberally. Josie officially becomes the “unreliable narrator” to her own life story. Was Josie’s life truly a series of unfortunate events? Were some of these events calculated and crafted by Josie herself? Or maybe, just maybe is she covering up for someone? Read None Of This Is True to find out!

I absolutely LOVED this book, devoured it in three days, and have not stopped thinking about it since. There was so much that I enjoyed about it, especially how it shifted between the narration of the book to the text of the eventual Netflix documentary made from the podcast. The tale went back and forth with Josie, Alix, and other people being interviewed and it really kept you on your toes. With each new interview came new information that you had to analyze and decide for yourself who was really telling the truth with each situation being discussed. None Of This Is True was a true psychological thriller from start to finish.

I have never read about a character quite like Josie Fair before. Even though I absolutely hated her, I couldn’t get enough of reading about her. Her brusque, irrational behavior was beautifully complimented by Alix. Alix was kind, soft, empathetic and the perfect person to craft the podcast. Through their interactions, Alix was still able to paint Josie as a sympathetic character despite everything that happened in the course of recording the podcast. This made the book even more thought provoking. Yes, you were trying to come to your own conclusion but it also made you question who in the cast of characters is deserving of sympathy.

None Of This Is True covered really heavy subjects and was quite difficult to read at times. However, if you choose to read it, prepare for your mind to be absolutely blown. Mine sure was. I am going to rate None Of This Is True with an eight out of ten stars and kind of want to read it again knowing what I know now. Highly recommend!

What are you currently reading? 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

Dec10

Lil Red’s Book Club: Little Cruelties By Liz Nugent Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Little Cruelties By Liz Nugent Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Without giving any spoilers away, as always, we are going to be discussing a thriller by Liz Nugent called Little Cruelties. This book was, hands down, the best one that I have read all year. It was so unlike anything that I have ever read before because this book was told from the perspective of three brothers. Literally all of the books I have read this year came from a female point of view so that in itself was a novelty. Before we begin our book club meeting, I will be placing a trigger warning on Little Cruelties for rape, murder, mental illness, violence, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

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William, Brian, and Luke Drumm are three brothers from Dublin, Ireland. They were born in quick succession to their mother who is an Irish celebrity and their father, a quiet man who is fifteen years her senior. Throughout the boys’ youth and beyond, the Drumm family would participate in “little cruelties” that would leave the brothers scarred and broken in their own special way. The cruelties that the brothers would dole out to each other was far beyond typical sibling teasing and rivalries. While the father tried the best he could, the cruelties from their mom, Melissa, was in the form of negligence and abuse – particularly towards Luke.

Little Cruelties begins at a funeral for one of the Drumm brothers and explores specific incidents told from their perspective that led to that moment. There is a third of the book dedicated to each sibling and it begins with William, the eldest. William was born knowing he was better than everyone because his mom said as such. He was the clear favorite and was used to getting everything he wanted. This made him a huge success as a film producer but a menace to women who he used and abused.

Despite William’s womanizer ways, he managed to marry a wonderful woman named Susan and had a daughter with her named Daisy. No one would ever go as far as to say he was the world’s greatest dad or husband and spent a majority of his time cheating on his wife. He wasn’t overly concerned about Daisy because her godfather, Uncle Brian, loved spending time with her. William has a sharp tongue, violent temper, and insatiable lust. His comeuppance is swift, to his brother’s delight and that brings us to Luke…

Luke is the youngest of the Drumm brothers and has always been strange. His mother made it obvious that he was less than perfect William and even plain Brian while his dad tried and failed to make Luke feel special. The trauma of his upbringing turned Luke into a religious zealot at a young age and he was convinced he could heal his family through prayer and living a noble life. His mental state has always been questionable but plummeted rapidly when he found fame as a pop singer at just twenty-one years old.

As Luke experienced fame and fortune firsthand, his mental health went into a downward spiral. He began drinking and using drugs heavily, experienced hallucinations, and went from a quiet young man to a violent one. Luke became a liability to his family because there was no telling what he would do and say when he had an episode. His brother, Brian, became his agent and caretaker to keep an eye on him and attempt to keep him on the straight and narrow. It worked sometimes and when it didn’t, the results were catastrophic. To learn more about Luke, you need to know more about Brian whose tale begins after a particularly high note for his youngest brother…

Brian is the middle Drumm brother and is considered the family “loser”. He is of average height, build, and looks and was constantly reminded as such in his youth. While William and Luke both found specific callings in their lives, Brian floated. He ended up in Paris as a teacher and not a good one. His attempt at a career ended up blowing up in his face, leaving him broke and homeless. As Luke toured in Paris, he met his brother there at his lowest and offered him a job. This turned Brian into Luke’s constant caretaker, but an overall good thing for both of them – for a while.

Thanks to Brian’s work as Luke’s agent, he was able to make money and more importantly, connections. He began working with other artists, singers, and activists but his biggest prize was becoming the agent for Daisy. This was an extra special “F you” to William and Susan and Brian orchestrated it to perfection. For all of Brian’s lack of success, one thing he was excellent at was holding a grudge. Little Cruelties begins and ends at a funeral. Which brothers are attending and which one is in the coffin? Read the book to find out!

Little Cruelties was a fascinating, devastating read and I devoured it. As I mentioned before, it was so different from other books I’ve read and Liz Nugent’s writing set the stage beautifully. She created a dark and atmospheric space to read about a family’s demise and I couldn’t stop turning the page to save my own life. Obviously, each brother was SO messed up in their own way but I loved being able to read it in their own words rather than the perspective of a wife or girlfriend.

If you read Little Cruelties, then I am sure you experienced similar sentiments to me about each Drumm boy; A burning dislike of William, sympathy for Luke, and a slightly less than burning dislike of Brian. The only difference between William and Brian was that William was forthright in his awfulness while Brian played his cards close to his chest. Knowing about each of Luke’s siblings and upbringing made him even more tragic and his illness not only understandable but expected.

The plot of Little Cruelties was excellent, yes, but the way it was set up was what made it my favorite book of the year. I thought it was so unique that William, Luke, and Brian’s portion of the book all featured the exact same stories in the exact same order. It was like Liz Nugent was writing you a map to figure out the grand reveal and I did. Every single chapter mixed with a bit of good old fashioned detective work told you everything you needed to know. You just needed to know where to look for it and even though I did tie all of the pieces together, I didn’t even care. Little Cruelties was that good.

Little Cruelties doesn’t deserve a ten out of ten which is why I am rating it with a twenty out of ten stars. This book was haunting and will completely break your heart. If you are up for the ride, then I cannot recommend it enough!

What are you currently reading? 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

Nov24

Lil Red’s Book Club: Night Watch By Linda Fairstein Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Night Watch By Linda Fairstein Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Without giving any spoilers away, as always, we will be discussing a thriller by Linda Fairstein called Night Watch. I haven’t had the time to get to the library so the past two book club picks are ones that I got for free from the library several years ago that have just been sitting around my apartment. I knew I’d get around to reading them eventually! Unfortunately, Night Watch really missed the mark for me and before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on it as it deals with rape, murder, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

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Alex Cooper is so lucky in love. Her beau, Luc, is a restaurateur who lives in a charming village called Mougins in France. Mougins is known for its picturesque views and fine dining – especially the three star rated Lutece, which Luc owns. Alex is supposed to be spending a relaxing vacation with Luc in France, but things go haywire before she’s had time to shake off her jet lag. The day after Luc hosts a lux party where all of the guests are to don white attire, a body is found in a nearby pond. The woman is dressed for Luc’s soiree and she has a waterlogged matchbook from Lutece in her pocket. Oh yeah, and she used to be employed by Luc.

As Luc clears his good name in France, Alex is flown back to New York City after the law firm takes on a big case. A prominent world leader is being accused of rape by a housekeeper at the hotel he stayed at and Alex’s firm is representing the victim. Alex’s mind is anywhere but her work, however. She is worried about Luc and anxious for his arrival in NYC where he will be opening an American branch of Lutece. He is able to make the trip and shortly after he touches down in American soil, another body is found with another Lutece matchbook. This young man happens to be the head waiter that Luc just hired for his New York restaurant.

Alex begins the delicate dance of trying to keep her world together as it comes crashing down around her. The firm fears their client is being less than truthful, her partner is in the middle of an investigation, and she is running out of reasons to believe that Luc has nothing to do with the murders. While Alex is in a constant state of panic, Luc tries to maintain a level head by conducting business for his new restaurant. His investors do not seem like a trustworthy bunch to Alex and her instincts are right. They have plans for Lutece too and it’s not just serving up an excellent meal. Is Luc in way over his head? Or is he the man orchestrating the whole plot? Read Night Watch to find out!

Night Watch was a long read that felt like it went on for forever and ever. The base of the story was interesting enough, but it was the way that it was written that I had a major issue with. There were SO many plots within the main plot that it was a bit difficult to keep track of them all. Although all of them came together in the end, it wasn’t seamless and it felt like Linda Fairstein was grasping at straws to reach a cohesive conclusion. The book didn’t read as effortless, but as multiple ideas thrown together with the hope that it would work out in the end.

Not only was the writing style not my cup of tea, but the key players, Alex and Luc, weren’t the most likeable characters. They were fine, but there wasn’t anything special about them. Their relationship wasn’t this full blown romance and I was more concerned about Alex’s flirtationship with a colleague rather than Alex and Luc. Speaking of her coworkers, Chapman and Mercer, were arguably the best characters in the book. Alex and Luc were doom and gloom to the T while Alex’s detective pals were humorous and light while still taking their job very seriously. I was rooting for them more than anyone else and they weren’t even the main characters!

Overall, I am going to rate Night Watch with a four out of ten stars. Night Watch lacked cohesion in every sense of the word. I saw the book through until the end and it was lackluster at best. This is one that you can definitely skip on!

What are you currently reading? 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

Nov6

Lil Red’s Book Club: After The Fall By Judith Kelman Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: After The Fall By Judith Kelman Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! It has been a while since the last book club review because it took me a fat minute to finish After The Fall by Judith Kelman. It was a good book, but it was very wordy! After The Fall was a court case thriller and that is a genre that I always enjoy. The subject matter of the trial and this book in general are a HUGE trigger warning as it deals with rape, sexual assault, and a plethora of disturbing content. If this does not seem like a book for you, then please skip over this post! Now, let’s get to it in a spoiler free setting:

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Danny Magill is a beloved teen in his community. He is a star athlete, star student, star friend, and star son to Jess and Charlie. Danny is helpful, courteous, and talented with an entire future ahead of him – he is in the process of filling out college applications. As with any thriller, the perfect bubble of the Magill home and Danny’s life is about to pop in a major way. After a school function, Danny gives a ride home to his friend Lisa. Hours after he drops her off, he is arrested for rape and physical assault.

The police department in Danny’s neck of the woods is in desperate need of a win and this is a case that they know they can make stick. As Danny lawyers up with a hot shot pro, Detective Tucci starts to work the case. Danny and his family continue to claim their innocence and Tucci must find the hard evidence to corroborate Lisa’s statement. This is a serious matter for Tucci – his job is on the line and he has a gravely ill daughter who depends on his health insurance. To add to Tucci’s stress, he is coming up with a big fat goose egg every time he follows a lead.

As Tucci hustles to put Danny behind bars, Danny’s defense team is kicking it into overdrive to get him acquitted. For a while, things are looking pretty good for Team Magill. Danny has no cuts or wounds on his hands to show he beat someone, the statement of Lisa’s father doesn’t add up, and the defense team is confident they can prove reasonable doubt. That is… until another girl comes forward accusing Danny of rape too.

In Danny’s community, he has already been tried and charged by the public as a rapist. His mental health begins to plummet rapidly and his parents who were once so positive these charges were false start to think differently. The trial is approaching quickly and the future of Danny and Lisa are in their lawyers’ hands. Is Danny guilty of these crimes? Or are these claims truly false? Read After The Fall to find out!

I can’t say that After The Fall was my favorite book ever, but I liked it well enough. I haven’t read a court case thriller in a long while so it was a nice change of pace and the story line definitely held my attention. After The Fall alternated between Jess (Danny’s mom) and Detective Tucci as a narrator and it was very interesting to see the case from both sides. Every chapter felt like one step forward and two steps back between the defense and prosecution. While I did figure out the grand reveal, I honestly had no clue what was going to happen as I was reading. It felt like the trial could have gone either way until things started wrapping up and it kept me turning the page.

Despite the graphic subject matter of this book, Judith Kelman managed to create characters that were really likeable. I felt so sorry for Jess because you could tell she only wanted the best for her children. She was trying to be strong for her family as she was falling apart and I think everyone can relate to that. Max, Danny’s younger brother, was adorable and hilarious. We also can’t forget about the faithful family pup, Prozac! Detective Tucci was also a character I really enjoyed. He comes off as intimidating, but he is such a teddy bear at heart and it showed as he cared for his ailing daughter. His wisecracks were top notch and I loved his friendship with one of the forensic scientists. It was precious. 🙂

I am going to rate After The Fall with a six and a half out of ten stars. This was a good book, but not great. If you are a fan of the genre, then I would recommend it. If not, then this is one you can skip on!

What are you currently reading? 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

 

Oct21

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Gulf By Rachel Cochran Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Gulf By Rachel Cochran Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Without giving any spoilers away, as always, we will be discussing a slow burn mystery by Rachel Cochran called The Gulf. I can’t say that this was the best book I ever read and at times it felt painfully slow. However, the story line and characters held my interest and it was still pretty good. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Gulf for child abuse and general violence. Now, lets get to it:

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It is the 1970s in Parson, Texas and Louisa lives with her girlfriend, Heather, in the town that is currently failing after being ravaged by a hurricane. Despite a lack of resources and money, Louisa loves her hometown although it hasn’t necessarily been kind to her. Lou and her brother, Robby, were dropped off on their Aunt Cece’s doorstep by their neglectful mother over two decades ago. The past has never felt so present to Lou, especially now as she mourns the death of her beloved friend, Miss Kate, and her estranged daughter, Joanna, returns to town to put her mother’s affairs in order.

Lou and Joanna were the best of childhood friends and spent every day in the forest dreaming up stories and acting them out. They were each other’s first kiss and it was completely Joanna’s world – Lou was just living in it and she was happy to. She loved spending time with Miss Kate and Joanna’s other siblings and it was like being a part of the family she always wanted. Then, a drastic turn of events occurred that essentially ruined Lou’s life…

Their all white school found out that Lou and Robby were being raised by a Mexican woman after their mom abandoned them. The kids were forced into attending an integrated school and all of the offers for football scholarships for Robby were off the table. He was then drafted to Vietnam and died there. The only person who knew about Lou and her brother’s living arrangements was Joanna and a flip was switched. Lou hated the girl who she used to love so deeply with an all consuming rage.

Seeing Joanna after all of these years has brought all of Lou’s trauma back to the surface. But, she is in no position to turn down a lucrative job offer which Joanna has for her: Fix up the dilapidated mansion, Parson House, that Miss Kate bought so it can be sold and Lou will get a cut from the profits. The money is enticing, of course, but Lou has other reasons for accepting the job. She believes that Miss Kate’s death wasn’t an accident and that someone with a grudge murdered her. Lou knows that Parson House is the best place to find answers and accepts the job.

As Lou spends her days working and snooping around Parson House, secrets are uncovered that make her second guess everything. Miss Kate was not the mother Lou knew and her troubled son, Seth, had access to a gun. The better part of Parson also despised Miss Kate and her former husband. At this point, anyone and everyone is a suspect in Miss Kate’s murder and it is up to Lou to solve the case. Only then, can she put her past and Parson behind her for good. Whodoneit? Read The Gulf to find out!

There was a lot that I liked about The Gulf and there was a lot that I didn’t. The story line certainly kept me on my toes and it was a delicious twist between the past and present. As you all know, I love a mystery and what originally seemed clear cut was not in the slightest. The stakes felt so much higher when anyone could have been the culprit in Miss Kate’s death. I enjoyed the writing style of Rachel Cochran as well. BUT, The Gulf was a slow moving book and it almost felt like pulling teeth to get to the next twist. At times, it felt like a chore to read it rather than something pleasant.

Despite the plot moving at a snail’s pace, the characters really helped keep the ball rolling. I adored tenacious Lou and it was easy to root for her. Lou’s life was filled with pain and tragedy and I felt for her. You could tell that all she wanted was love and acceptance and that just wasn’t the way things worked out. The supporting cast was also very interesting because all of them had their own memories and versions of traumatic events that happened to Lou. The only catch was that you didn’t know who was lying and it kept me turning the page!

Is The Gulf worth the read? Who’s to say? I liked it, but it wasn’t great. If you like a whodoneit, then I would definitely recommend it. If you like something more fast paced, then you’re not missing out on anything. I am going to rate The Gulf with a six out of ten stars for its creative plot and excellent character development.

What are you currently reading? 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

 

Sep30

Lil Red’s Book Club: We Love To Entertain By Sarah Strohmeyer Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: We Love To Entertain By Sarah Strohmeyer Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Today, we will be discussing a thriller by Sarah Strohmeyer called We Love To Entertain and, as always, no spoilers will be given away. This book was a nice change of pace from the previous ones I just finished by Mary Kubica because it was actually good lol. BURN! Yes, this book was simply riddled with typos to the point of being ridiculous. However, I liked the story line and did not see the grand reveal coming at all. It held my attention to the very end and the same can’t be said for my recent Book Club reads. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on We Love To Entertain for disturbing content and general violence. Now, let’s get to it:

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Erika has been plain unlucky throughout her life and is nothing short of thrilled when she receives an offer for her dream job. She will serve as a personal assistant to sweetheart Holly and hunky Robert – a power couple starring on the popular competitive renovation show, To The Manor Build. Holly and Robert will be transforming a property in Erika’s hometown of Snowden, Vermont and she will be there every step of the way. Yes, the experience is great. But, spending time with the handsome Robert is even better in Erika’s eyes.

For months, Erika has been helping Holly and Robert renovate an expansive mountainside retreat that was seized from the former owner for not paying his taxes. Zeke Strickland, put his heart and soul into his old home to raise his twin boys with his wife. However, after suffering from a traumatic brain injury, their money dried up and Zeke’s injury subjected him to violent rages. It’s no matter to Holly and Robert, though, because they got the property for a song and he is nothing but a blip on their radar. That is, until they begin receiving threatening letters from who they can only assume is Zeke.

Not only are Holly and Robert competing on To The Manor Build, but they are also getting married! They will be livestreaming their wedding and everyone is ecstatic. Well, everyone but Erika anyways. Being the loyal assistant that she is, Erika rolls through the punches of the wedding day and returns to her mother, Kim’s, home in a sour mood. Later that night as Erika pouts in her room, she has an unexpected visitor – Robert. Maybe he realized marrying Holly was a mistake and he is there to profess his love?! Uh… No.

Robert is there to ask Erika to borrow her car so he can take Holly on a surprise honeymoon to Montreal. He says that there are not enough charging stations on the way for his Tesla and she can borrow it in the meantime. Although Holly and Robert just tied the knot – this is no time for a honeymoon. The finale of To The Manor Build is happening in a week and it will be a mad dash to the finish. Robert assures Erika that they will be back before they will be missed, they will be in constant contact, and that Erika will handle herself beautifully. What else can Erika say except “bon voyage”?

The producers of To The Manor Build are very displeased at Robert and Holly for their getaway, but the show must go on. There are decisions that only the newlyweds can make, though, and no one can seem to get in touch with either of them. Erika blows up their phones to no avail and metaphorical fires for the renovation are popping up left and right. As days go by with zero contact, a missing persons report is filed and the law is taking their disappearance seriously. And, it’s not Zeke Strickland who they suspect, but Erika – the lowly assistant with a massive crush on Robert. Will Holly and Robert be found dead or alive? Is Erika guilty of this crime? Read We Love To Entertain to find out!

I thought We Love To Entertain was an insanely creative read. Not only was it suspenseful, but it was also pure fun. As you can guess, To The Manor Build is an HGTV style show and it was amusing to read about the ins and outs of the production, design, and the people assisting in the renovation. I also really enjoyed how after every few chapters, there would be a blog post by Holly or Robert along with comments on Reddit threads from the show’s fans. This book read like reality TV drama and I was so there for it.

Unlike Mary Kubica, who couldn’t craft a likeable character to save her own life, that was not the case whatsoever for Sarah Strohmeyer. I adored her cache of quirky characters and that enhanced my reading experience even more. It was nice to finally form an attachment to the people I was reading about after two duds in a row. I was rooting for Erika, who was so tragically out of her league. I also really liked her mom, Kim, and Kim’s coworker named Doreen who was an absolute hoot. Holly’s mom, Tammy, also played a fantastic role and I loved how her, Kim, and Doreen banded together at the end of the book.

As you all know, I am a big stickler for typos and We Love To Entertain was quite possibly the worst book I have read in that regard. Guys, it was so bad. I’m not talking a handful of errors, I’m talking an error every few pages. This will absolutely effect my star rating, but it didn’t take away from the fact that it was still a good book. We Love To Entertain was fast paced, it was “hand me my popcorn” worthy drama, and it was HGTV from hell happening before your eyes. While I find the amount of typos inexcusable, I was a fan. *shrugs*

I am going to rate We Love To Entertain with a six out of ten stars. If it weren’t for those pesky errors, it would have been a seven and a half, for sure. I still recommend this book, though, and I think you will have a blast reading it like I did!

What are you currently reading? 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