Dangerous Girls by Lisa M. Sylvan

⭐️🏳️‍🌈

CW: death, murder, blood, torture

This was a fantastically atmospheric and charged YA thriller with an inventive magic system and a Dark Academia thread that fascinated me. Beautifully written and entrancing.

Full review to come.

Rumoured by Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso

🧠

CW: death, murder, grief, stalking, blackmail, abuse, sexual assault, overdose, addiction

This was an entertaining read packed full of Easter Eggs, twists and turns. It felt vibrant and fresh with its exploration of celebrity culture, fandom and obsession, but the ending slightly let it down for me.

Flat 401 by Kingsley Pearson

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, racism, homophobia, abusive relationship, manipulation, gaslighting, domestic abuse

This was a compulsively readable examination of grief, guilt and vengeance – particularly within a broken justice system. It is such a strong debut.

Full review here.

You Belong to Me by Hayley Krischer

🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, drugging, sexual assault, grooming, manipulation, indoctrination

This YA thriller focused on the dark side of influencer culture and the wellness industry with a focus on the abuse of power and indoctrination. Krischer smashed it.

Murder Between Friends by Liz Lawson

CW: death, murder, violence, manipulation

This was an interesting YA thriller with good characterisation and plotting. It was quite gripping with some well-executed twists though I found some of them underwhelming.

A Deadly Night at the Theatre by Katy Watson

⭐️🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, blackmail, grooming, sexual assault, manipulation

This was my favourite Three Dahlias mystery yet, combining two of my great loves. Again it is a well-constructed story that develops these characters further and skews their dynamic a little more. Long may this series continue.

Full review here.

The Hysterical Girls of St Bernadette’s by Hanna Alkaf

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: rape, sexual assault, death, murder, disappearance, PTSD, grooming, manipulation

I really enjoyed the characterisation and tension in this YA horror/mystery with an in-depth look at cultures of abuse and the silence that allows this to thrive. It was moving and impactful.

Basilisk by Matt Wixey

🧠

CW: death, murder, suicide, violence, blood, grief, stalking, manipulation, virus

This was a terrifying slow descent into madness that you cannot pull yourself away from. It is a twisted look at Internet rabbit holes and conspiracy theories – a puzzle box of death and destruction.

Full review here.

Difficult Girls by Veronica Bane

⭐️🏳️‍🌈

CW: death, murder, violence, blood, online bullying, sexual harassment

This was a classic YA thriller delivered brilliantly. We go behind the curtain of a theme park to delve into its dark history of murder and the ensuing mayhem. Gripping and well paced with wonderful characterisation.

Full review here.

The Compound by Aisling Rawe

🏳️‍🌈

CW: violence, blood, injury, sexism, harassment, assault

This is such a surreal look at consumerism and capitalism with a dripfeed of dystopian details. It is a slow burn descent into madness with brilliant ambiguity. The Love Island meets Lord of the Flies comparison rings true.

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

🏳️‍🌈

CW: grief, death of a parent

This was an entertaining contemporary romance filled with gorgeous food descriptions that transported me around Europe. It is flirty and naughty in the best ways, with a sweetness at its core.

A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek

🏳️‍🌈

CW: death, murder, violence, injury, sexism, manipulation, classism

This was such a beautiful reimagining of Swan Lake with a Gothic feel to proceedings. Wonderfully written with ultimately a story of empowerment and love against the odds.

Full review here.

Lady’s Knight by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

🏳️‍🌈

CW: sexism, sexual assault, harassment, homophobia, injury, violence

This was a delightful, funny and surprising fantasy romance that delivered the knight story of my dreams. It was empowering and heartfelt with a wonderful sapphic romance at its core. The writing style was wonderfully snarky and anachronistic at times too.

Don’t Swipe Right by L. M. Chilton

CW: death, murder, violence, blood, injury, sexism, sexual assault, harassment, racism, xenophobia, death of a parent, grief

After thoroughly enjoying Everyone in the Group Chat is Dead earlier this year, I had to pick this up. That darkly humorous tone continues in an escalating indictment of modern dating culture mixed with murder. However, I wasn’t completely sold on the ending.

The Revenant Games by Margie Fuston

CW: death, murder, injury, violence, blood

Unfortunately, this really didn’t work for me. The first chapter was great but then I struggled to find my way and believe in these characters.

Triflers Need Not Apply by Camilla Bruce

CW: death, murder, violence, grief, traumatic flashbacks, assault, abuse, fire, arson, death of a loved one, death of a child

This was the type of historical crime novel I loved – rooted in a true story but then embellished with the author’s imagination. It was wickedly sharp and drew my attention to a story I knew nothing about.