Didn’t See That Coming by Jesse Q. Sutanto

⭐️🧠

TW: sexism, sexual harassment, rape threats, death threats, misogyny, bullying, gaslighting, classism

This was everything I wanted and more from a contemporary YA romance novel. It was a burst of sunshine into my life, though it also had an impactful examination of sexism, particularly in ‘purity’ and ‘respect’ cultures and the gaming world. 

Full review here.

Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra

🧠

TW: death, murder, violence, torture, misogyny, gaslighting, kidnapping, paedophilia

This was one of the scariest thrillers I have read for quite some time. Right from the start, I could not look away from this book. It was a fight or flight extreme situation that only seemed to get darker as the pages went on. Sierra has crafted lightning in a bottle here.

Full review here.

The Trials of Lila Dalton by L. J. Shepherd

🧠

TW: terrorist attack, murder, death, grief, conspiracy, sexual assault, rape, amnesia, gaslighting, sexism, misogny

This has such an ingenious concept at its heart. That amnesia trope is played with in a really exciting and intriguing way that builds suspense and has a well-earned payoff. I’m trying to be vague because this is a book you should go into knowing as little as possible.

Full review here.

Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead by Jenny Hollander

⭐️🧠

TW: murder, suicide, death of a child, mental illness, PTSD, grief, alcoholism, stalking, addiction

This is captivating writing – the type of all consuming, must read writing that forces you to keep turning the pages. It goes behind the headlines and the true crime industry into the real life people caught up in an infamous case. Explosive and exhilarating.

Full review here.

The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: parental death, child death, grief, police brutality, racism, violence, gore, injury detail, coercion, gun violence, PTSD, anxiety, depression, self-harm for magic purposes, blood, drugs

This fantastical mystery had such a phenomenal world within its pages and wonderfully messy, complex and sometimes unlikeable characters just doing their best to survive. It pulses with an unrestrained fury that just pulls you in and invites you to unleash alongside Venus.

Full review here.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

🧠

TW: sexual assault, sexual harassment, rape, sexism, misogyny, gaslighting, pregnancy, violence, injury, blood, death, death of parent, car accident, suicide, grief, abandonment, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, child abuse, bullying, body shaming, religious bigotry, homophobia, vomit, toxic relationship

I really enjoyed Garmus’ writing style and how character focused this story was. We always centre Elizabeth, from her romance to her relationship with her child and the TV aspect too. It is the story of a woman wanting to be acknowledged for her prowess, while also unpicking what family means.

The Escape Room by L. D. Smithson

🧠

TW: murder, death, violence, imprisonment, torture, gaslighting

This was a fantastic thriller that really built on its captivating concept. It was beyond brilliant in its pacing, tension and suspense. The twists were next level too. Between this and Lie or Die, my Traitors hungry heart was very happy.

Full review here.

The Split by Kit Frick

🧠

TW: kidnapping, dementia, death, drunk driving, suicide, drug overdose, infidelity, forced captivity

This book had such a brilliant concept and I’ve previously really enjoyed Kit Frick’s work. I was glued to the pages, particuarly with the innovative trick of the split narrative. However, I was not a huge fan of the final reveal(s) and felt like it meandered slightly, hence dropping my rating.

Goddess Crown by Shade Lapite

⭐️🧠

TW: death of parent, grief, murder, abandonment, poisoning, stabbing

Lapite’s writing was just delectable. It was so immersive and pulled you straight into this detailed world full of magic and power plays. It shows the darkness and danger within humans, as well as an intriguing look at divine intervention, fate and the limitations of both of these. 

Full review here.

Lie or Die by A. J. Clack

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: murder, death, violence, gaslighting, manipulation, electrocution, execution, allergic reaction, suicide

If, like me, you are looking for something to fill your life with the twists, turns and scheming of The Traitors, Lie or Die will fill that void perfectly. This is a pacy and perfectly riveting read that will have you up until the early hours, bingeing the story inside. 

Full review here.

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

TW: murder, death, wrongful imprisonment, sexual abuse, sexual violence, grooming, assault, violence, racial injustice, misogny

The premise again was interesting and the narrative voice complicated, with plenty of different rabbit holes to chase down. However, it all felt a bit surface level and rudimentary. I wanted something more complex and three-dimensional I think.

The Four by Ellie Keel

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

TW: death, suicide, accident, injury detail, rape, self-harm, sexual assault, violence, bullying, sexual harassment, homophobia, classism

This was Dark Academia at its finest. A very character focused and introspective mystery that also looks at the fundamental failings of an institution only concerned about protecting itself. Dark, intense and twisty.

Full review here.

The Eternal Ones by Namina Forna

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠💙

TW: death, murder, violence, traumatic flashbacks, PTSD, chronic pain, war, sacrifice, injury, gore

Forna brings this epic YA trilogy to a close in bombastic style. This has excellent world-building, characterisation and even more twists. However, at its core, this has always been Deka’s story and she remains fully in focus.

Full review here.

Signed Sealed Dead by Cynthia Murphy

🏳️‍🌈🧠💙

TW: murder, death, violence, serial killer, trauma, cancer

It’s simple: Cynthia Murphy writes a book, I’ll read it. This is yet another stunning outing from a queen of YA horror. It is suspenseful, pacy and chilling with some scenes that kept me questioning every shadow. Her characters always shine through too and this was felt especially here.

Five Nights by Rachel Wolf

🧠

TW: death, murder, violence, gaslighting, emotional abuse, infidelity, parental death, grief, manipulation, PTSD, traumatic flashbacks, forced captivity, kidnapping

It’s the love child of Succession and The White Lotus in this thriller dripping with privilege, glamour and deadly secrets. Wolf takes the locked room setting to new heights in this scandalous and suspenseful read.

Full review here.

The Summer She Went Missing by Chelsea Ichaso

🧠

TW: death, murder, kidnapping, imprisonment, drugging, assault, injury, violence

Ichaso is another YA thriller write I will always try to pick up. Her books are well plotted and filled to the brim with secrets, lies and danger. This is another excellent read that fully immersed me and left me desperate to untangle the complex web of events at its core.

Full review here.

Vera Wong’s Unsoliticed Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

⭐️🧠

TW: domestic abuse, gaslighting, manipulation, toxic relationship, bullying, emotional abuse, murder, death

Sutanto is fast becoming a must-read author for me.  Her writing just hooks its teeth into me and her use of narrative voice is just fantastic – creating these voices that just stick with you and these lovable, three-dimensional characters at the forefront of it all. An excellent cosy crime read.