3.5 stars. I was in love with the cover and summary when I originally saw this on Netgalley. So what's a girl to do when she's turned down to read and3.5 stars. I was in love with the cover and summary when I originally saw this on Netgalley. So what's a girl to do when she's turned down to read and review on Netgalley? She bloody damn pre-orders it and squees with glee when it downloads on debut day and gets to reading. Let me just say that this one had me at "Footballer's Wives". I loved that show and I still miss it so I was thrilled to get to take this trip to Cheshire with the tony horsey set and the over the top celebrities and wannabe strivers.
I did think the death of Marcus and how this put into motion all the chaos and angst of the Tippermereians over Folly Lake Manor and the wider equestrian centre took a little long to get going especially after the opening. I do get that there was quite a cast to introduce however so possibly that couldn't be helped. I liked Lottie but I honestly never bought Rory's love for her. There's charmingly aloof and then there's Rory. I didn't really root for Lottie to get her man so much as get over his wishy-washy nature. Still, I loved her interactions with her grandmother, Elizabeth and her fraught relationship with her father, Billy & uncle, Dom. Amanda was well done and I enjoyed Pip as well. I truly felt Stoneley was fabulous at describing the comedic chain reactions set off by people, dogs or horses, alike. It was very vivid in the telling and made me laugh throughout. I give nothing but kudos to all things related to "the wedding". It was perfect and everything you wonder about as you flip through Tatler. I was having Kyle/Chardonnay wedding flashbacks. There were plenty of sexy times throughout but I didn't think it was over done nor exceedingly spicy but it was fun. I do admit that I wasn't adoring any of the men as romantic options but they did serve their purposes well.
All in all, I'm very glad that I read this and I would read another by the author any time. Definitely recommended if you need something to read while travelling or on a weekend. It won't change your life but you'll have some fun.
Merged review:
3.5 stars. I was in love with the cover and summary when I originally saw this on Netgalley. So what's a girl to do when she's turned down to read and review on Netgalley? She bloody damn pre-orders it and squees with glee when it downloads on debut day and gets to reading. Let me just say that this one had me at "Footballer's Wives". I loved that show and I still miss it so I was thrilled to get to take this trip to Cheshire with the tony horsey set and the over the top celebrities and wannabe strivers.
I did think the death of Marcus and how this put into motion all the chaos and angst of the Tippermereians over Folly Lake Manor and the wider equestrian centre took a little long to get going especially after the opening. I do get that there was quite a cast to introduce however so possibly that couldn't be helped. I liked Lottie but I honestly never bought Rory's love for her. There's charmingly aloof and then there's Rory. I didn't really root for Lottie to get her man so much as get over his wishy-washy nature. Still, I loved her interactions with her grandmother, Elizabeth and her fraught relationship with her father, Billy & uncle, Dom. Amanda was well done and I enjoyed Pip as well. I truly felt Stoneley was fabulous at describing the comedic chain reactions set off by people, dogs or horses, alike. It was very vivid in the telling and made me laugh throughout. I give nothing but kudos to all things related to "the wedding". It was perfect and everything you wonder about as you flip through Tatler. I was having Kyle/Chardonnay wedding flashbacks. There were plenty of sexy times throughout but I didn't think it was over done nor exceedingly spicy but it was fun. I do admit that I wasn't adoring any of the men as romantic options but they did serve their purposes well.
All in all, I'm very glad that I read this and I would read another by the author any time. Definitely recommended if you need something to read while travelling or on a weekend. It won't change your life but you'll have some fun....more
This was a fairly good summer read. I liked the Minnesota setting and learned a little bit about supper clubs and relish trays. As a slice of AmericanThis was a fairly good summer read. I liked the Minnesota setting and learned a little bit about supper clubs and relish trays. As a slice of Americana, it worked very well.
I didn't very much like the way the story was laid out. We open with Mariel and she's having a very bad day and has hit a deer. We then hop a timeline to Mariel's mother and grandmother and pretty much stay in their lives for a lot of the book until we pick back up with Mariel still just after she hit that deer, at the 48% mark. The thread that mostly kept me in the story trying to get back to Mariel was Ned and his life up to meeting Mariel. I have to admit that I didn't care much about or for Florence or Betty and their lives. There's all this build up to a sort of showdown/reckoning between Florence and Mariel and honestly, it fell quite flat for me. The story closed well and I felt on a high light. The back 25%, I just couldn't put this down.
I would recommend this. Others may feel differently about the timeline jumping and some of those characters than I did. I'm glad I picked this up....more
I don't rate many books with 5 stars but when I say this book had me gripped and I did not want to put it down, it is earned! I woke up this morning aI don't rate many books with 5 stars but when I say this book had me gripped and I did not want to put it down, it is earned! I woke up this morning and finished it because I could not begin my day until I did.
I was pulled in by Alice, Linne, Nick and Peter but Morgan and Benji were the ones I was rooting for. I pulled for these two like they were real people. Invested! They were the only characters, other than Alice that I was with the whole time. The story centers on how people pick up the pieces after a suicide and remake their lives around the pain and loss. It was quite a journey to join them on and I felt satisfied with how everyone came out on the other side of the wedding weekend. I kept feeling like if not for the big event, so many of the family members would not have crossed the expanse to their better selves and better lives.
I picked this up on a whim and this is pretty much the kind of read I love to take to the beach in the summer. I saved some great lines here. The sort that just kind of lightning bolt off the page. I will read another by Green, no question. Highly recommended....more
I wanted something for a change of pace and this political thriller seemed like it would do. It moved quickly and did well with twists and turns for tI wanted something for a change of pace and this political thriller seemed like it would do. It moved quickly and did well with twists and turns for the most part. The predictable balanced pretty well with the unpredictable, until the last third where it just went sort of haywire for me and I just couldn't hand wave it all away. It cost the story a star in rating but this wasn't a bad read.
It gave me the change of pace that I was seeking and the action scenes were well done and vivid. I could see this as a short run streaming series. ...more
I could not put this down. A world in which a test can supposedly tell people who are their "one", is a world begging to be upended. And the best partI could not put this down. A world in which a test can supposedly tell people who are their "one", is a world begging to be upended. And the best part of this book is the people running headlong into that upending. Couples broke up because one or the other got the test done and found their current person wasn't their "one" and headed right off to meet their match. Results were mixed. Most of the main characters were a collection of truly flighty (Sally), generally unmoored (Jade), desperate (Mandy) and truly sociopathic (Christopher and Ellie).
One well-adjusted character won at life because of this craziness, so that was nice. Some ended up better off than they should have given their folly. And some got the ends they really earned. This brings me to my favourite character (no disclosure because it's too spoilerific), who didn't get the ending they should have but let me tell you, they were THE GOAT and deserved better from start to finish. They are seriously why I gave this four stars and helped propel me through this book because I was cheering them on.
In the end, I have to admit that in addition to some natural preference and actual chemistry between people, we choose the rest. I was put off by so many people in this book dropping people who they'd built relationships with (some quite happily) and then because of a test, jettisoned spouses/partners and children they'd had with them to go try something with someone else wherever on the planet because some company said their true match was out there. It was like some kind of mania. It seemed like most of these folks thought no work would be involved in building and maintaining a relationship with their "one" and the test was some sort of shorthand for a complication-free life. At least by the end, that fantasy was put down.
This was my first read of Marrs and I'd gladly read another. I'm glad I came across this at the library. Recommended....more
My goodness, this was not to book I thought it would be. The main character was extremely wishy-washy and with such weak will, I was shocked for a lotMy goodness, this was not to book I thought it would be. The main character was extremely wishy-washy and with such weak will, I was shocked for a lot of this. I thought I was getting a domestic thriller or mystery read but this ultimately felt like women's fiction. And let me tell you, even if this was presented as a book club book, I would not have been amused.
The main character, Mae has a personality that mostly consists of wishing to be liked and be in the in-group of mothers in her new neighbourhood. This apparently goes back to her own struggles with fitting in growing up and there's so much harkening back to those times in this story that the thrust and pace of the now would get lost. So, you really have to care about her teen angst and not having resolved it in any way as a 40-something mother and wife to enjoy this telling. I did not care enough. In fairness, she's not the only ridiculous woman in this group. Even the queen bee is ridiculous and I honestly didn't care about the plight of any of these women as it was all self-inflicted melodrama. A couple of bad things actually happened but still, these women acted like they mostly didn't have or didn't know how to exercise their own agency. Mae does finally change late in the final third of the book but by that time, I'd lost all of my good will toward her and was thoroughly unimpressed with her.
It was a quick read, so that was in its favour. And the cover is lovely. It's exactly what caught my attention. Compliments to the book blurb people, it drew me in.
I've been on a pretty good reading roll of late and this kept my streak going. I wanted to read something to change up my usual mystery and science fiI've been on a pretty good reading roll of late and this kept my streak going. I wanted to read something to change up my usual mystery and science fiction books and this historical fiction caught my eye. This coincided with my hold place coming up at my local library so, this read at this time was clearly meant to be.
I must admit that Eleanor and Ruby's stories captured my heart and I rooted for each one. I had all the feels, the highs and lows as they hit obstacles and persevered. While many stories are told about places where unwed mothers had babies with circumstances that forced them to give them away back in the day, I have never encountered one centred on a Black experience of it. This showed both sides from the inconveniently pregnant Ruby to Eleanor, who was unable to carry a child to term. By the story's end, I felt like both main women had achieved the lives they sought and worked for.
This story was full of characters I enjoyed, Aunt Marie, William, Shimmy and wildly, in the end, even Mrs. Shapiro and Mrs. Pride (while I didn't agree with them, I could see where they were coming from given who they were in their time). I also have to give points to all the librarian bits and Eleanor had my heart as a fellow young woman who worked in the university library as a sophomore and met the man she'd marry there, himself a student. She had to be my favourite! Finally, as with Brit Bennett's The Vanishing Half, the colourism blew my mind. I am altogether appalled and fascinated by this and I had a whole moment when (view spoiler)[in the epilogue, thirteen-year-old, (fair) Wilhelmina asks her mother why she is the way she is and not like her mother and Wilhelmina wishes she were like her (brown) mother. Her mother assures her that she's beautiful as she is. A thing it's a blessing to be told and a thing we all must accept to be at peace. It reminded me that just like Wilhelmina, I have a great mother (parents, really) who didn't make skin colour an important thing in valuing people. (hide spoiler)]
This is the first I've read by Sadeqa Johnson and I'd gladly read another. Recommended....more
I really enjoyed this! I don't even know quite how to classify it as there is a murder mystery here but it also has elements of and reads like either I really enjoyed this! I don't even know quite how to classify it as there is a murder mystery here but it also has elements of and reads like either contemporary or women's fiction.
From the Authors Note: "A quarter of the world's 11.5 million migrant domestic workers are women from the Philippines"
The stories of Cora, Angel and Donita, all Filipina domestic workers was so engaging. Cora has a broken heart over the death of her nephew Raymond. She was for all intents and purposes the only parent he had and her grief for his loss weighs on her and has changed her. Her new position is very good but Cora's not inclined to engage or trust anything or anyone. She just wants to do her work and be left alone. Angel, has a position that has been good but circumstances in the household have changed and she now is not only uncomfortable, but she is also unsafe. Rounding out the trio of friends is the youngest, Donita. She has the worst placement by far, with an employer who is straight up abusive. Still, Donita holds her head high and refuses to give Mrs. Fann the complete deference she craves.
Donita's friend, Flordeliza is accused of murdering her employer after being found to have tried to steal. Donita knows Flor didn't do it because, at the time of the killing, Donita saw Flor out and about. But Flor apparently isn't talking, though by all indications, even if she tried, she wouldn't be listened to or believed. Donita takes up the cause and embarks on finding out the truth, with Angel and even reluctant Cora along the trail. This is a very good thread to the story and the situation set up according to the author, was inspired by a real case which culminated in the execution of the accused and convicted domestic. The author had lived in Singapore when the case happened but later moved to the Philippines and there got a whole different view of the story. Beyond the murder, this story gives a searing look at power and wealth. How power can be wielded, wrested and won. How wealth can insulate and shield but also its limits. I didn't want to put this down and when I had to, I thought about it.
I don't want to spoil this by giving too many details because it was such a great read. All the characters were well done, from those I cheered for to those I really wished for bad things to happen to. I very much enjoyed the snippets from the chat group the employers had. Pretty much on brand that the complainers were just the worst. I was often shocked by the rudeness, disrespect and abuse levelled at other human beings on display. I don't care what job someone is doing for another, decency and respect are required. It seemed that many thought their wage payment granted them the right to mistreat people and you just knew it was even worse because they knew they'd have no consequences. This is spoilery, but all the love to Mr. Vijay and his well swung racquet!
I quite liked how everything resolved for the characters. I have to up my rating to 5 stars from 4 for this because it deserves to be a favourite for me. This was a library read for me but I've ordered a copy to keep because I just loved it that much. My only regret is that this is usually the sort of book I like to save for vacation (which I realized as I was reading but surely was not going to put it down for later!) and now I won't be taking this on my summer trip.
I have had this on my bookshelf for a couple of years and decided to give it a read.
It was just okay for me and well-written enough. It's a story abouI have had this on my bookshelf for a couple of years and decided to give it a read.
It was just okay for me and well-written enough. It's a story about siblings in a dynastic family with remote and absent parents and what it feels like when the public doesn't care who they are anymore. A lot of hand wringing over what amounts to living like the 99% of the population and even then the upper end of the 99% not the bottom third. It was mildly interesting reading about Brooke, Nick and Shelley but in the end, their angst and ennui nor their coming out on the other side, won't remain with me....more
This was a fine enough story with the swindling of a woman out of her inheritance by someone who was close to her mother. It was atmospheric and creepThis was a fine enough story with the swindling of a woman out of her inheritance by someone who was close to her mother. It was atmospheric and creepy and a little bit predictable. Alas, the gothic twist just wasn't for me and so its not one in the collection I really recommend....more
I enjoyed this interlude of a family on vacation. Mark, the husband of Rachel, is the narrator of this peek at family dynamics; not all of it was pretI enjoyed this interlude of a family on vacation. Mark, the husband of Rachel, is the narrator of this peek at family dynamics; not all of it was pretty. Rachel is Geoff's twin sister, and both families have rented a condo on the Cape. Mark and Rachel's sons and Geoff and his wife Sasha's daughter and baby boy round out the group. It's mostly the dance of spousal diplomacy and plenty of child wrangling with a dash of Mark's middle-age ennui. There's also the underlying and mostly undiscussed circumstance that Geoff, always given to having problems dealing with adult daily life has found a new obsession which apparently will go overlooked again and this time wind up in disaster by the last paragraph.
The writing was pretty atmospheric and I only had one question by the end: Why couldn't Geoff vote anymore? The things you hear in passing at family gatherings for which there is no further explanation. That was a doozy and relatable. I also appreciated Mark and Sasha being sort of outsiders to their spouses' relationship even on the trip. The allowance made for "well, they're twins" and "twins need their time together" was interesting to me. As a singleton, I find sibling relationships fascinating and kind of a marvel anyway.
I read this via Kindle Unlimited (or maybe Amazon Prime; it's available via both) and am glad I stumbled across it because I'd completely forgotten about Amazon Original Stories and have found lots of themes I've missed and am interested in reading. This is the first thing I've read by Alam and I'd read more....more
This was a sweet little book. A recent aimless high school graduate is shipped off to a remote mountain town by his mother to learn forestry. Told thrThis was a sweet little book. A recent aimless high school graduate is shipped off to a remote mountain town by his mother to learn forestry. Told through the young man's journal, the town's people are initially quirky, the job impossible and all he can think of is escape. There's also an elusive and crushworthy girl so his existence he decides isn't entirely bleak. But that's all mere backstory to me because what really charmed me about this book was the trees and the tending to them. I have a short list of fiction books that have to do with trees and forests and the care or mistreatment of them and I was in the mood for one so this more than filled the bill. It was interesting and relaxing and just the read I needed.
I may read the second book. Recommended if you're in need of a slow, easy and calming read.
I'll keep this brief. The summary drew me in and I thought about how much I enjoyed stories set at boarding school. I looked forward to this but this I'll keep this brief. The summary drew me in and I thought about how much I enjoyed stories set at boarding school. I looked forward to this but this wasn't Sittenfeld's Prep.
This was all over the place with a main character I didn't find credible. There are so many things the author seemed to want to do here that none came off terribly well. Slice of life, second act upon cusp of 40, going home again, boarding school life, romance, class ascension, pratfalls of social media, parental estrangement and more. Also, far too much brand merch mention. The Sonoma setting was rendered well, that was a saving grace.
Every once in a while I read a book that disappoints me and then I check reviews and ALL THE THINGS are lain out by those who read before me and I just wish I'd read those to save myself the money or time (sometimes both). Such are the perils of trying to be unspoiled.
I think I'd read another by the author with better editing. I think there could have been a great story here if it could get out from under itself....more
A good story told in two timelines but not the psychological thriller the summary hinted at (or I read into it). More along the genre lines of Women'sA good story told in two timelines but not the psychological thriller the summary hinted at (or I read into it). More along the genre lines of Women's contemporary fiction, which is perfectly fine. Ballet life, friendship bonds and betrayals between women were very well done. The cover is simply beautiful.
Many thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for an Advance Reader's Copy. ...more
This was a page-turner, mostly in the second half and the final quarter was amped up even higher. I enjoyed it as a bit of domestic noir. It was at tiThis was a page-turner, mostly in the second half and the final quarter was amped up even higher. I enjoyed it as a bit of domestic noir. It was at times, creepy, witty, poignant and hilarious. My feelings were all over the place as I read which is unusual for me.
I loved the setting and the initial stressful setup. Parity and division of labour are very important when building a life with another and also trying to pursue professional fulfillment and success. It's a lot and I was sympathetic to Nora's plight initially. As I read on, I had an undercurrent of dread what with the murder mystery thread and Nora's willingness to even go along with the cabal's plan and held me back from investing in her fully.
What made me hold back a bit is that I just didn't buy the idea that the only way to balance the scales is to take away the agency of the man you've married. I'm very much a woman who isn't interested in changing my husband. I control myself and I don't acknowledge any responsibility of controlling him. So if there's anything I don't like or don't want to do, I don't and I say so. I demand the same thing of him that he demands of me, to be a participating adult. I realized early on that I became the social keeper of the marriage. Invitations, Thank You notes, Christmas, birthday, christening, condolence correspondences etc (and appropriate gifts and/or flowers) and all current addresses are my provinces. Somehow, we successfully co-manage the calendar. During the pandemic, I renamed my desk and work area The Office of Procurement and handled "All The Things". I didn't mind doing any of it and it was chaotic at times wrangling everything into my system of order. I also haven't washed a dish, taken out trash or recycling or dusted the entire time as my husband does all of that (even pre-pandemic).
I recognize everyone is different and has different expectations and thresholds so I felt for so many of the perspectives in the book (from "I'm tired" to "I can't just NOT do All The Things because they won't be done and then CALAMITY!!"). My advice, speak up, be honest, expect and demand more. I do think this speaks to a broad section of married and partnered women and is just perfect for beach and book club.
But back to Nora and the story. I couldn't fully root for Nora for much of this and then when she finally turned a corner, half of me didn't want her to succeed against her foes (I really wanted her to pay!). I was completely fed up with Nora's boss to the point that I didn't even commit his name to memory but laughed in satisfaction when near the end, his demise is mentioned. He was completely ridiculous and I recognized the sort. I only wished Nora had found a solution to deal with him effectively beforehand. I SO wanted to know what was in that letter and there was so much tension spooled up that the way that thread tied off just drove me up the wall. I was very invested in the story so I have to give points for that. When all was said and done, I was satisfied with the ending. Apparently, I had a lot of thoughts and feelings about this story since this review is so long. Take it as a positive for the book.
I also appreciated the author's note at the end. Very good points were made. This is the second book of Chandler Baker's that I've read and I would happily read another.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an Advance Reader's Copy....more
A good book but definitely not the psychological thriller the blurb hinted at (I pictured a tale of high body count at a beautiful sequestered locatioA good book but definitely not the psychological thriller the blurb hinted at (I pictured a tale of high body count at a beautiful sequestered location. The place they stay is called the Oratorie de St. Eris and I was counting on epic levels of discord & chaos!). So if, like me, that's why you thought to pick this up, be advised. This is a great book about women's friendships and how they change from college into adulthood, marriage, motherhood. I hadn't expected that part but I very much enjoyed that. The mystery is basically what happened that caused the wedding of the title to be called off and how all of the members of the party intersect and secrets are revealed.
In book-likes, this reminded me of Be Careful What You Wish For by Vivien Brown. As much as I dislike the genre assignation, I think this would fall under Women's Fiction. I think it'd be a fun book club or beach read. The setting and characters (Anna was the one with whom I identified most) are rendered very well. Walker has quite an evocative way with words and do bring your school French along for the peppering of words as descriptors.
But don't pick this up just yet if you're looking for a Lucy Foley, Ruth Ware or Emma Rous type tale....more
I have a pile of books I specifically have tagged for summertime and this was one of the first ones I choose for the unofficial kickoff to summer. TheI have a pile of books I specifically have tagged for summertime and this was one of the first ones I choose for the unofficial kickoff to summer. The weekend was rainy and cold in my part of the world and reading about a tony hotel near glittering waters and its guests basking in the sunshine was just the escape read I wanted.
Riley and Tom. an engaged couple who happen to be planning their reception and wedding details with Tom's mother, Marilyn. They had all the pre-wedding stressors with Marilyn pushing in at every chance. I felt for Riley and appreciated my own MIL for not ever being like Marilyn. I was totally on Riley's side with regard to wedding footwear (as one who wore Keds under her gown, I support Riley's non-traditional shoe choices) and how she ranks "the wedding" and "the marriage" in importance. I enjoyed reading about Riley and Tom's relationship and where they were at the end of the story. They gave me all the feels.
Claire, widowed and having had a leave imposed on her (from her career as a reporter) who is looking to rekindle a romance with a man she jilted 30 years ago. She literally acted like she'd been planning to live out As Time Goes By. I liked reading about her marriage and family life and how she felt at various points and her observations. She was a bit irritating at times but also came through with such incisive conclusions that I had to highlight and have a mindful moment. I mean, there's wisdom to glean from a character who recounts a 30+ year marriage and family life, even if she's a bit messy in the moment.
Jean-Paul is the director of the hotel at its reopening. He is having marital struggles as he & his wife Marie have welcomed their first child, a girl. I enjoyed reading about their perspective simply because I could relate to that stage of marriage. I very much liked the parts where the two were able to see each other as the people they were before the baby and remember to make time for each other. And the part about celebrating life. Loved that.
Jason & Gwen. are a couple on vacation. He a Ph.D. candidate and she an elementary school teacher. They have what I consider to be insurmountable problems and those create a lot of narrative tension throughout the book.
I stayed up until after midnight reading this one and it was worth it. It's a very gripping read. I worked out which character died by the 64% mark but that didn't diminish the remainder because Francis wrote in such an engaging and compelling way. Sure, I wanted to know if I was right but more than anything, I wanted to know what led up to the death and to see how everyone fared by the book's end.
It's sure to be a great beach or book club read and balanced a breezy read with poignance. This is my first read by Wendy Francis and I'd read another.
I read this in a day and it was very good at keeping my attention. I wasn't expecting it to be so much an espionage tale but it wove well around the tI read this in a day and it was very good at keeping my attention. I wasn't expecting it to be so much an espionage tale but it wove well around the troubled marriage of the Unsworths. I most liked how Kira was portrayed and her relationship with her mother reminded me a bit of Elizabeth and Paige of The Americans. I don't want to spoil (and my mind is a bit on other things this week) but there was something of a lull but the momentum did reengage carrying the story to a decent end.
This is my first read by Berenson and I'd read another.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for the Advanced Reader's Copy....more
This was a page-turner and it pulled me right in. Prue, a twenty-four-year-old from a small village swaps homes with Madi, a sixty-two-year-old from LThis was a page-turner and it pulled me right in. Prue, a twenty-four-year-old from a small village swaps homes with Madi, a sixty-two-year-old from London. They both have good reason to get away from home for a month and when the story opens the "Why?" is part of the mystery to be unravelled. The story is told primarily in the POVs of the two women but there is another POV that pops up along the way: that of a bitter stalker that we know from their first writing is going to do some physical damage or kill someone. The big mystery propelling this story is who is the bitter stalker with the plot? I so enjoyed trying to decipher that part of the story.
There's a bit of a tonal shift to the part of the story where we get to know Prue and Madi in the new homes and surroundings they've swapped. It was nice to see how both women had similarities and differences and got to know one another a bit through others. This part of the story felt more like your usual Women's Fiction (I hate that classification but I don't have any other signifier to convey this point) fare with heartwarming themes as both women healed, came out of themselves more and became part of their new communities. I admit that this wasn't the big pull for me as a reader but it did lend a more hopeful tone and certainly did make me hope that neither woman was done in by the book's end.
No spoilers but this did end very well. I had my suspicions about the bitter stalker's identity as more characters were introduced but there was always one important thing that the reader doesn't have the answer or any clue to before the denouement. That was a bit frustrating but that's just a personal preference for how I like my mystery reads to proceed. The cover hints at a darker tale than I felt this resolved into but I do love the cover. It's what caught my eye and part of why I requested the ARC.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the Advance Reader's Copy of this book....more
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