The Things We Do To Our Friends by Heather Darwent

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TW: violence, death, child abuse, suicide, rape, murder, torture

Heather Darwent has such an exceptional writing style. It is bursting with description, gorging until ripe to burst, almost to the point of oversaturation and overstimulation. You feel as lost as Clare in this labyrinthine structure of enmeshed friendship circles and something much darker lurking beneath the surface. At the same time, it is also so fragmentary and able to move effortlessly in a place that seems beyond time. It is perfect for these increasingly cold and damp nights, caught in that liminal time between light and darkness. The Things We Do To Our Friends takes you into a tantalising trance, heady with smoke and secrets. 

Full review here.

Someone is Watching You by Tess James-Mackey

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TW: death, murder, emotional abuse, sexual coercion, physical violence, manipulation, gaslighting, child endangerment

There were so many layers to the story, creating a detailed and nuanced narrative. Of course, it helps that there were so many curveballs thrown our way. It destabilised my trust in everything and everyone we encountered. The more details we got, the further my heart sank for Nia. I really enjoyed her character, being determined and fiercely protective of her character. Through her desire to belong, James-Mackey also interweaves an important exploration of toxic relationships and manipulation.

Full review here.

Five Survive by Holly Jackson

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TW: murder, death, shooting, gun violence, death of a parent, death of a sibling, grief, blood, assault, violence

Five Survive is a relentless thrill ride from the queen of YA thrillers. This is easily one of my favourite reads of the year. 

The claustrophobia of the setting of the RV serves to heighten the already thickening tension that much more. When you know everyone is hiding something but they literally cannot move beyond these small confined spaces, the atmosphere is incredibly fraught. It is intense and makes for gripping reading, as every little moment counts.

Full review here.

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

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TW: death, child death, murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, alcoholism, rape, sexual assault, death of parents, domestic abuse, miscarriages, drug abuse, physical abuse, stalking, gore, grief, blood, medical trauma

This was a slow burner for me, but one I ultimately enjoyed. I adored the premise, with that blend of true crime, unsolved mystery and a hint of something inexplicable. Within the story, I liked as we sat with each of main characters and their unreliable narration, as they worked through what truly happened all those years ago. The pacing was sometimes a tad too elongated for me, but it all paid off in an excellent third act.

A Million to One by Adiba Jaigirdar

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TW: death, drowning, parental abandonment, neglect, abuse, parental death

A Million to One proved once more why Adiba Jagirdar is one of my auto-buy authors.

This is very much a character driven story. All of them have such distinctive voices and are full-realised, three-dimensional characters with unique quirks. They form such a heart-warming and strong found family, with intense emotional connections and maybe feelings beyond the platonic. The found family trope is always a winner for me. Here, Jaigirdar deploys it for these four people trying to carve their own way in a world that rejects and marginalises them. It does not want to see them succeed, but they attempt to flourish anyway.

Full review here.

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett

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TW: murder, death, cult, body horror, gore, blood, kidnapping, stalking, mugging, violence, home invasion, gaslighting, manipulation, emotional abuse

Janice Hallett just cemented her status as one of my all time favourites.

This is an absolutely fantastic mystery, packed full of twists, turns and surprises that you will not see coming. Her unique method of writing is so captivating and engaging, leaving you with the ethical dilemma. Definitely the modern day Christie for me.

Full review here.

The Girl Who Broke the Sea by A Connors

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TW: death, car accident, impulsive behaviour

Lily was a shining star of the book for me. I connected with her instantly and those little fragments we got of her past made me want to know everything. She was a deeply raw character, who wore her heart on her sleeve but also had it in the right place most of the time. For me, she came across as such an authentic and lovable character, who occasionally made reckless decisions and mistakes.

Full review here.

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks

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TW: death, murder, shooting, racism, police brutality, institutional racism

Ramon, J.B. and Trey are such nuanced characters and when actually given a chance to speak, come across so strongly and fold into your heart instantly. Each of them is trying to thrive and live up to the expectations pressing down on him. Also, this is such a taut and well-written murder mystery. It is a tantalising thriller, with a real sense of time ticking away and tension building. 

Full review here.

Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers

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TW: death, rape, attempted suicide, suicidal ideation, suicide, self harm, panic attacks, anxiety

Summers has such a way of writing brilliantly flawed and fractured characters that you take into your heart. Parker is the blueprint for every girl that followed and I loved her thorny narration. This, like every other Summers novel, is impossible to put down. While some aspects could have been better, you can chart the growth across the novels so much and it is brilliant to see where it all began.

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

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TW: death, murder, car accident, child death, body horror, injury, violence, terror, gore, drowning, fire, dismemberment

This broke me out in chills.

Hendrix has crafted another incredibly unnerving and creepy little crawling creature of a book. There are scenes here that will haunt my dreams for a while. I mean, dolls, a haunted house and repressed trauma? Sounds like the perfect recipe for some scares.

Full review here.