domestic drama

Review: The Storm by Rachel Hawkins

~ megs14malloy

The StormThe Storm by Rachel Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

The Storm centers around the coastal town of St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama, known for the deadly hurricanes that frequently sweep through. It’s also known for Lo Bailey, a local girl accused of killing the governor’s son, Landon Fitzroy, during Hurricane Marie in 1984.

We meet a cast of characters all connected to this town, and the Rosalie Inn, a century-old inn that seems to have been able to weather any storm. The Rosalie is currently owned and run by Geneva Corliss, but the property has been in her family for many years.

When Geneva hears about a writer coming to town to research the Fitzroy murder, she feels a glimmer of hope, not about solving the crime, but about the potential windfall that a successful True Crime book could bring to the Inn.

August Fletcher, the writer, will be staying at the Inn as a guest while he does some research, but he doesn’t come alone. Geneva is shocked when he shows up with none other than Lo Bailey in tow.

Lo claims she’s returned to town to clear her name once and for all, but the more Geneva interacts with Lo and August, she wonders if there’s not something more going on.

As another storm bears down on St. Medard’s Bay, things at the Inn begin to heat up and tension builds. Will the truth of that storm in 1984 finally be revealed after all, or will there just be more death and destruction instead?

This is a good book, though certainly not my favorite from Hawkins. I’m rounding up to 4-stars based on how great the production of the audiobook is. The full cast truly brought this story to life for me and I enjoyed listening to it.

I don’t think if I’d just read a hard copy I would have enjoyed it as much. Because of that, I strongly urge those with access to the audiobook, to go that route if you pick it up. I predict it’ll make for a more pleasurable reading experience.

This is a very character driven story and because of that having the various narrators definitely made it more captivating. There’s nothing particularly suspenseful, or mysterious, about it in my opinion, but if you’re down for the drama, it’s still entertaining.

I personally could have done with more atmosphere and more suspense, but it was fun to watch all of the various pieces come together until the truth was finally revealed.

I did like how Hawkins formatted it, the bits of mixed media and just the way it was told overall. It did keep me engaged, though I am a big fan of twisted dramas in general. I was also quite satisfied with the ending and felt fairly connected to Geneva by the end.

I would recommend this to Rachel Hawkins fans, particularly if you enjoyed The Heiress, which I feel this most closely resembles. Again, I definitely recommend the audiobook, as it’s a fantastic listening experience.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. While this won’t go down in history as my favorite Rachel Hawkins book, it was still quite entertaining and I look forward to whatever she writes next!

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Review: The Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf

~ megs14malloy

The Perfect HostsThe Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Perfect Hosts is a new release Popcorn Thriller/Domestic Drama from Heather Gudenkauf.

I’ve loved some of Gudenkauf’s work in the past, so I was really looking forward to this one and it didn’t disappoint.

This story is set around Madeline and Wes Drake, and their epic gender reveal party that goes horribly wrong, leaving a family friend dead. Close to 200-guests were in attendance at the time and any of them could be responsible.

Due to the nature of the incident, a government special agent, Jamie Saldano, is brought in to investigate. Agent Saldano has his own connection to the Drake family and his own reasons for wanting to be there.

The Drake’s unexpected house guests up the tension, as well as the suspect list. Will Agent Saldano be able to find the killer, or will the killer find him first?

Gudenkauf wastes no time getting into it with this story. It kicks off with a truly explosive 1st chapter. I was absolutely hooked, popping my popcorn and settling in for the drama.

You can tell quickly that it’s going to get messy. It was giving me Real Housewives meets Yellowstone with a touch of Lifetime movie, and I’ll admit I got pretty invested in all the jaw-dropping twists and turns.

Sure, there were aspects that were slightly-predictable, but the journey getting to the reveals was still hella enjoyable.

As everything unfolds in the story, you start to realize how many layers and players are involved. I liked that we had Agent Saldano’s perspective, as it added a bit of an outside observer to this otherwise domestic story.

The intensity builds constantly throughout, with so many crazy things happening. It’s a super fun, quick and engaging read. I would recommend it to Readers who enjoy high octane Domestic Thrillers, particularly if you are interested in one set on an active horse ranch.

Thank you to the publisher, Park Row, for providing me with a copy to read and review. It’s safe to say that I’ll pick up anything Heather Gudenkauf writes at this point.

I’m looking forward to whatever is next!

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Review: You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto

~ megs14malloy

You Will Never Be MeYou Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jesse Q. Sutanto is one of my go-to authors. I try to pick-up everything she writes either as soon as it releases, or even prior to its release, when I’m lucky.

For this one, even though I had an ARC in my hot little hands, and was anticipating it, I never ended up picking it up, and then it just got buried in my stacks and my mind.

Recently, while stalking Jesse’s author page to see if there was a new Vera Wong book listed, I noticed this one and snapped to attention. I needed to read it immediately.

I ended up getting the audiobook from my library and listened to it over the past couple of days. I loved the dual narration from Eunice Wong and Risa Mei, and am glad I ended up taking in the story via the audio format.

This story follows two up-and-coming social media influencers, so having the audio narration for them, it really added authenticity to those influencer personalities. I feel like both women channeled what I would anticipate these characters would have really sounded like.

In this story we follow Meredith and Aspen, best friends, who are both in the influencer space. Mer started out as a fashion and beauty influencer, and ended up teaching Aspen all she knew.

After Aspen got married and had kids, she turned more towards the parenting space and became a Momfluencer. It was at that point, with her handsome husband and adorable children, that her content really started taking off, leaving Mer’s numbers in the dust.

Their friendship was strained by this shifting dynamic and the two ended up having a falling out. By the time we meet them, they’re no longer speaking, but the story catches us up on all we need to know in regards to their messy friendship break-up.

I loved the back-and-forth between the two perspectives as all the details of their relationship were filled in. I also liked how we were shown the truth behind their lifestyles. Sure, online all was beauty, grace and stress-free days, but behind the scenes, it was anything but.

I like the exploration of that topic. Social media influencers have such sway over the way many of us see our own lives in comparison and I thought it was interesting to get a bit behind-the-scenes, even in a fictional capacity.

The 1st-half of the book is building up these characters and developing the drama between them. At the mid-point, it does take a turn though and suddenly we’re thrust into a dark world following Mer’s disappearance.

Things get really crazy from there. I haven’t read any reviews yet, but I was surprised after completing it to see that the overall rating is only at a 3.63 currently.

I think perhaps it may be due to the slower nature of the 1st-half, and the fact that neither MC is particularly likable. They’re more like characters you love to hate versus just love. You’re prob not rooting for either of them.

I tend to enjoy stories that follow influencers, or really any type of celebrity, so this worked for me in that regard. Additionally, I loved how messy and twisted the drama was. I always enjoy digging into a toxic friendship, and this definitely was that.

Overall, I feel like this is another really solid showing for Sutanto, who seems to have no issues jumping amongst various genres and age-ranges with her stories.

This is the 12th-novel that I’ve read from Sutanto and I’m always impressed with how easily I get drawn into her stories. I found this riveting. Her characters are well-developed and the drama is always delivered.

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’m sorry it took me so long to get to it. I had so much fun with it and definitely should have picked it up sooner!

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Review: The Perfect Divorce (Perfect #2) by Jeneva Rose

~ megs14malloy

The Perfect Divorce (Perfect, #2)The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Perfect Divorce is the sequel to Jeneva Rose’s 2020-release, The Perfect Marriage. I had never read that 1st-book, but ended up getting an audio-ARC of this one, which I couldn’t resist due to one of my all-time favorite narrators, Adam Lazarre-White, being part of the production.

It’s not often you see Duologies, or Trilogies, in the Thriller space, and I wasn’t 100% sure that I would need to read the 1st-book, but I’m so, so, so glad that I did.

I definitely feel like you need the background of The Perfect Marriage in order to be able to truly appreciate this one. Rose did so much character work in that 1st-book that’s imperative to have going into this one.

Also, if you’re wondering if this book is necessary though, perhaps it’s just a cash grab, and can’t hold up to the 1st-book, I would also put those thoughts to rest. Somehow, Rose made this even more twisted than the 1st.

This one is set 11-years after the events of the 1st-book, and MC, Sarah Morgan, has moved on. She’s remarried, she has a daughter and she’s ready to leave the past in the past, exactly where it belongs.

Unfortunately, yet again, Sarah finds herself deep in marital woes after her husband, Bob, is caught out in a one-night stand. Sarah wastes no time filing for divorce. She’s not putting up with any funny business anymore.

However, in the midst of this, DNA evidences surfaces that could also bring the horrible events of the past back into the spotlight. When the woman Bob cheated with disappears, it seems like history may be repeating itself, but how?

This audiobook is so great. I definitely recommend that format if you’re going to pick it up. The cast truly was able to bring all of the drama of this story to life.

Rose did a great job refreshing the Reader on what happened in that 1st-book as well, without making it feel repetitive. So even if it’s been a while since you read The Perfect Marriage, I don’t think you’ll have any trouble getting into this one and feeling like you have all the info.

I was impressed with how wild and dark this one got. I wasn’t sure if the same diabolical nature of the 1st-book could be repeated again, but it definitely was.

Thank you, Blackstone Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review. If you’re looking for a completely OTT-Popcorn Thriller Duology, look no further, the Perfect duology is it!!

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Review: The Perfect Marriage (Perfect #1) by Jeneva Rose

~ megs14malloy

The Perfect Marriage (Perfect, #1)The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

On paper, Sarah and Adam have the perfect marriage. The couple live in a beautiful home, and Sarah has an extremely successful career as a Defense Attorney in Washington, D.C., while Adam gets to pursue his passion in writing.

But in truth, Adam’s grown tired of Sarah’s focus on her career. She’s constantly working, and yeah, maybe he is even a little jealous of her success.

Adam begins to pursue another passion in the form of a young waitress named Kelly Summers. He uses their 2nd-home as a rendezvous point with his mistress, which is perfect because Sarah never goes there.

Adam’s other life gets suddenly exposed, however, when he is arrested for Kelly’s murder. The young woman was found murdered in the bed at the lover’s retreat, shortly after Adam was known to have been there.

Being the best in the business, there’s no one better to take on Adam’s defense than Sarah; conflicts of interest be damned. Even though he’s broken her heart, Sarah agrees to take on his case. He’s her husband and in spite of his betrayal, he still deserves the best defense. Doesn’t he?

The Perfect Marriage follows the deeply twisted lives of this power couple via both Sarah and Adam’s perspective. I loved the dual narration of the audiobook, and would recommend that format.

Initially, I wasn’t sure if I was going to round up to 4-stars, but after thinking about it for a couple of weeks, I really feel it deserves it. This was so fun. It’s so messy, but all the more engaging because of that. I seriously never knew what was going to come next

It’s true that the plot probably won’t be the most memorable long term, but Rose got so devious with it, I gotta give her love for that. There were so many twists, and although there’s not a ton of substance, it’s a hella good time.

I would recommend this for Readers who love fast-paced Domestic Thrillers, bordering on diabolical. Get your popcorn ready, cause you’re gonna want it!

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Review: It Happened on the Lake by Lisa Jackson

~ megs14malloy

It Happened on the LakeIt Happened on the Lake by Lisa Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Greetings again from Outlier Island!!

But this time I’m here, and I’m happy about it. I had so much fun with this, and I’m not getting that impression from many of my book friends who’ve read it.

This is a long one, I’ll admit. Coming in at well over 500-pages, that’s a bit unusual for a Thriller, or Domestic Suspense, but to me, it never felt too long.

I was so invested in all the juicy drama, trying to figure it out. My brain was spinning with all my theories…

I would definitely say it’s one of those books you just have to pick up at the right time, and luckily for me, I picked this one up at a time when it was exactly what I needed.

I don’t necessarily agree with the publisher comp to Rear Window, but in a way I can see what they were alluding to, as there is definitely a lot of ‘watching’ going on.

The drama of this story surrounds Lake Twilight, and the private island set in it, with its stately-Victorian home inherited by our MC, Harper Prescott. Even though Harper has an aversion to the property, she’s recently returned after some upheaval in her life, including a divorce.

When she was younger, Harper went through a lot of trauma on the property and the surrounding area, so it’s not surprising she hasn’t really wanted to spend much time there in her adult life.

While we don’t learn all that has gone on in Harper’s past right away, we are treated to past perspectives that help to fill in the blanks.

Harper’s present perspective is given as 1988, and the bulk of the action in the past occurs 20-years earlier in 1968. For me, I loved the back and forth, because it helped to slowly fill in the blanks and build out the story.

I say slowly, because it does take a long time to figure everything out, but not so much because the pace is slow, but more because there is soooo much to uncover.

Harper was considering fixing the property up in order to sell it, but being back stirs up so much unresolved issues and feelings, she’s not sure if she’ll actually be able to follow through with that plan. For now, she’s mostly focused on putting her past to rest.

Can Harper figure out the hazy puzzle that is her past before the island claims another victim, or will Harper finally be overcome by the things that have haunted her?

It Happened on the Lake features one of my favorite tropes and I think that’s part of the reason it was such a hit for me. I adore when a protagonist returns to their hometown, usually that they’ve fled years before, and ends up trying to solve some sort of mystery that’s been haunting them.

That’s exactly what this book is and I was in it with Harper. I also really enjoy Harper as a protagonist, because she was written in such a way that I wasn’t 100% sure how reliable her perspective actually was.

That sense of uncertainty had me questioning everything, and I think that upped the intrigue level for me. I wanted to trust her, but part of me wasn’t ready to let my guard down.

There were moments during the build that reminded me a lot of Riley Sager’s, The House Across the Lake. It has sort of similar vibes with regards to the lake, surrounding town, and the people watching people situations.

Obviously, the content of this is vastly different and it is more drawn out, but if you enjoyed that drama-filled lakeside setting, this could end up working for you too.

There’s a lot of moving pieces, particularly at the beginning, so it is the type of read where you have to be completely dialed in. If you miss anything, I can see it possibly getting confusing. Particularly due to the time jumps.

Regardless, I think if you’re in the right mood, and you have the patience for it, it’s a super fun and enticing read.

While it won’t be for everyone, I think for the people it hits with, like myself, it can be a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to the publisher, Kensington Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I was hesitant to pick it up initially, because of that intimidating page count, but I’m glad I ended up giving it a shot.

It exceeded my expectations!

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Review: Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

~ megs14malloy

Don't Let Him InDon’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars rounded up**

When Nina Swann starts dating Nick Radcliffe, Nina’s daughter, Ash, is almost instantly suspicious. Nick seems a little too slick. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is; at least in Ash’s estimation.

Her Mom has fallen head over heels though, so Ash has to tread cautiously. She begins digging into Nick’s past. She needs to make sure her Mom is safe.

Martha, a florist living in a neighboring town, begins questioning her husband Alistair’s frequent absences. He always has a story, but after hearing so many, Martha is starting to question everything.

These women are about to become connected, and when they do, it’ll end up being for much darker reasons than any of them could have suspected.

Jewell has done it again. This is exactly the type of twisted Domestic Thriller that I love to sink my teeth into. I was so invested in this story, I felt like I was a part of the action.

I was gnoshing my popcorn, raising my eyebrows, oohing and aahing as new secrets were revealed; it was a hell of a good time. The short chapters and multiple perspectives kept this moving along at a furious clip.

Just when I thought it could get more devious and outrageous, it did. Every twist, every turn, I was living for it. I couldn’t put it down.

I’ve said this before in reviews, but I believe it fits perfectly here as well. I don’t watch any Reality shows, but I know a lot of people who do, and hearing them talk about them, I feel like I got the same dopamine rush out of this, as they do their favorite shows.

I was glued to it. It was so dramatic, I was so invested, and yeahhhh, it’s super OTT, but I love that if it’s done well, and IMO, Jewell does OTT-Domestic Thrillers soooo well!

I definitely recommend this for your Summer TBR if you love a juicy Domestic Thriller, full of drama, secrets and jaw-dropping lies.

But you better buckle up, baby, because Jewell is about to take you for a wild ride!!


Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I always get excited for Jewell’s latest work, and this one didn’t disappoint!

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Review: Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy

~ megs14malloy

Goodnight BeautifulGoodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I bought a copy of Aimee Molloy’s Goodnight Beautiful immediately upon its release in 2020. I didn’t know much about it, except I had heard that it was in some way influenced by Stephen King’s Misery.

I had no idea how, or how much of an influence that played in the actual plot, there was just some chatter and I knew I needed it. Anything even mildly King-related, I need.

Of course, like many novels before her, she came into my house and was promptly stuffed onto a shelf, where she’s been waiting to be read for all these years.

Recently, I did a huge unhaul, I’m talking over a 100-books, and I still held on to this one. I was still so interested, and I made a promise to myself, this was the year.

I’m glad I picked it up now. I was wildly-entertained. Luckily, I have never managed to spoil the plot for myself, so was taken by surprise with numerous twists and turns.

The first big twist, I was jaw on the floor, literally. Like, WHAT?! It made me stop to reconsider everything I thought I was understanding about this story.

I love that type of twist. Clever misdirection is something I always appreciate. I also enjoyed the direction the story went in. I wasn’t sure if that’s what we were doing, but when I figured out it was, it was still quite pleasing to me.

I just thought this was very well executed and although it won’t go down in history as a new FAVORITE book of all time, I can still recommend it to anyone who enjoys a twisty, popcorn Thriller.

If you’re like me, and you’ve had this one sitting on your shelves for half a decade, now is the time, girlfriend, give it a whirl; a fun and fast-paced Summer Thriller.

I’m looking forward to reading more from Aimee Molloy!

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Review: The Hollywood Assistant by May Cobb

~ megs14malloy

The Hollywood AssistantThe Hollywood Assistant by May Cobb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After a tough break-up, Cassidy Foster, ends up accepting a new job halfway across the country, via her well-connected best friend, Lexie.

Cassidy moves from her native-Texas to California to take a position as a personal assistant for a wannabe actress, Marisol, and her director husband, Nate Sterling. The glitzy couple welcomes Cassidy into their home with open arms, and she’s quickly taken up into their tumultuous lives.

It’s an amazing gig. Cassidy just needs to help them with various tasks a few hours a day and she’s going to be pulling in more money than at her last thankless job.

The more she gets to know the couple though, the more cracks she begins to see. Perhaps they aren’t so perfect after all, and even though it’s Marisol she’s really meant to be assisting, it’s Nate she’s finding herself most drawn to.

He begins asking her to read scripts for him, and seems quite pleased with her work. Then he starts asking for other things, and their relationship develops.

It’s clear to her now that they aren’t the perfect couple. When one of them ends up dead however, Cassidy becomes the authorities perfect suspect.

How is she going to convince them of her innocence when all signs are pointing to her? Granted, she hasn’t made the best choices in this whole thing, but she isn’t guilty, right?

Maybe Cassidy is not as a reliable of a narrator as you’ve been led to believe…

I’m a May Cobb stan, an enthusiast, if you will. I always look forward to her new books and offer forth no apologies for that. This was such a fun Summer Thriller, IMO. It gave me Summer vibes the whole way through, even though I have no clue in what time period it was actually set.

The L.A. setting, the glamorous food, drink and wardrobes, as well as the ritzy Hollywood couple with poolside hijinks, makes this absolutely scream Summer.

It’s full of obsession, deception, lies and OTT-drama, and I was here for every single freaking second of it. I will pick up anything Cobb writes, because we like what we like.

I love how risque this was. Cassidy’s position within this new job quickly becomes uncomfortable, but in such a fun way. Nate and Marisol were so hard to figure out. I wasn’t sure what was truth and what was lies.

I felt like she was being manipulated, but it was difficult to tell by who. That def kept me invested. Both Nate and Marisol seemed so sincere in their interactions with Cassidy. I thought all of that was very well composed by Cobb.

I know this type of twisted OTT-Domestic Drama isn’t for everyone, especially for Readers anticipating more thrills, but for me, Cobb’s stories always seem to hit.

I don’t watch any Reality TV, but I have a feeling that I’m getting the same dopamine rush that viewers who love those shows are getting when I read one of Cobb’s books. They’re just pure entertainment, and so far from my own life it’s not even funny, but it is.

As far as the ending, I saw what was happening way before our MC, but I felt like that made sense. Also, it added to the intensity. I was like yelling at my audiobook like you would during a great Slasher Movie, ‘look behind youuuu…’

Overall, I had a blast reading this. I was fully invested throughout and loved the various twists and scandalous drama along the way.

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I look forward to WHATEVER high octane drama Cobb comes up with next!!

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Review: Nothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass

~ megs14malloy

Nothing Ever Happens HereNothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There’s a reason why so many people enjoy living in small towns. They’re safe. They’re wholesome and it’s a great place to grow up, or raise your own children.

Shelby and Mack are best friends who still live in the small town they grew up in. Both are successful business women and have their own families. Life is steady and good.

That is until Shelby is viciously attacked, barely surviving the incident, and on that same night Mack’s husband, Leo, also goes missing.

This event shook the town. People were understandably shocked and disturbed. How could this happen here? Nothing ever happens here…

Honestly, this is all I want to say about this plot. I always look forward to new releases from Seraphina Nova Glass, because she always ends up surprising me. I’m never sure what I’m going to get.

I feel like for some Mystery-Thriller authors, they have a bit of a formula, and you know when you are reading their books that it’s one of theirs, because there is such a specific style. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

In fact, some of my favorite authors I would say this about. A great example, IMO, being the great Agatha Christie.

For SNG though, I don’t really feel that. This also isn’t a bad thing. Neither way is better than the other. I feel like her stories, the tone, the way they’re told, have really run the gamut for me.

I loved the unique perspectives in this one. We get Shelby and Mack, of course, but we also get the perspective of an elderly woman named, Florence, who lives at a care home that both Shelby and Mack are involved with.

I love getting older perspectives. I say older, but by that I just mean older than what we, on average, tend to get in fiction, and I completely loved Florence.

This book grabbed me from the start. By 10% in, I was hooked. I felt like the opening was so powerful and intriguing that it’s going to stick in my mind for a long time. I didn’t know what to think.

I did find Shelby and Mack a bit interchangeable at the start, NGL. I struggled at times to tell them apart, but that worked itself out the further along I got in the story.

The residents of the care home though, were all distinct and such a joy to read about. The time spent with them was honestly my favorite bits.

Another thing I loved about this was the setting and the climate. This story is set in Minnesota, entirely during the winter months. The snow and teeth-chattering cold play a huge role in the action.

It’s absolutely perfect for Winter reading. This entire story made me feel cold. I’m not joking. I could feel it. Make sure you have a nice warm blanket and hot drink at the ready when picking this one up!

Overall, I had a blast with Nothing Ever Happens Here. It’s such an intensely-OTT, wildly-wicked good time, and boy, oh boy, did it get my pulse racing towards the end.

Florence and Herb are absolute dolls. I love them both and their friendship so much. Goals.

Thank you to Graydon House, for providing me with a copy to read and review. As mentioned, I love Seraphina Nova Glass and always look forward to her latest works.

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