Claws Out by Bella Mackie

CW: death, murder, violence, grief, cheating, manipulation, gaslighting

This was a vicious and wickedly funny read with two deeply unlikeable protagonists clashing as their lives collide. It has that razor-sharp satirical bite I love in Mackie’s work.

Full review here.

Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, injury, gore, body horror

This was extraordinary. It takes an ingenious concept and weaves it into a story that I cannot get out of my head. This was clever, moving and everything I love with horror.

Full review to come.

Natural Selection by Clare Edge

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: murder, death, violence, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, gore, injury

This has a brilliant concept and delivers an enjoyable revenge thriller that settles the man or bear debate. I liked the way Edge explores female rage and the thin line between vengeance and justice but something about the ending did not quite land for me.

Black River by Ruby Jean Cottle

🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, blood

Unfortunately I just don’t quite think this was the book for me, I wasn’t pulled into the story and wasn’t rooting for the central romance.

Where Lost Girls Go by Kody Keplinger

🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, gaslighting, manipulation, kidnapping, indoctrination

This was another case of a book just not quite being my cup of tea. I enjoyed aspects of this and some of the twists but it didn’t quite land for me.

A Bloody Scandal by Evelyn Scott

🧠

CW: medical gaslighting, pain, chronic illness, racism, sexism, misogyny

This lives up to its title in this searing indictment of medical misogyny that will inform and enrage you in equal measure. It is such an eye-opening and informative book that I would highly recommend.

Full review here.

Fawn by C. N. Vair

🧠

CW: death, violence, murder, drowning, sexual assault, harassment, religious fanaticism, sexism

This was the perfect Summerween read. It is gorgeously written with this undercurrent of violence that builds and builds into a conclusion that sears itself into your brain.

Full review here.

Workhorse by Caroline Palmer

🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, violence, manipulation, gaslighting, abusive relationship, classism, body dysmorphia

I enjoyed the way this explores the fashion industry, growing up and finding your place in the world. It takes some sharp turns into unexpected territory and I did find that the ending wasn’t quite as punchy as I wanted it to be.

Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen

🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, gore, rape, sexual assault, paedophilia

This was a spiky and sharp feminist revenge serial killer thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was twisty with great, layered characterisation at its heart and I look forward to picking up the sequel.

Gingerbread Bones by Lindsay Lovine

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, body horror, gore, torture, fire, stalking, death of a child, grief, arson, injury, manipulation, mind control, possession

This gave me goosebumps. It is an extremely dark YA horror that delves into the evil of humanity and twists a familiar story through a new lens.

Full review here.

The Killer’s Mark by M. W. Craven

🧠💙

CW: death, murder, torture, injury, graphic violence, pornography, trafficking

The Poe and Bradshaw series is one of the best thriller series I have read. This new instalment is just as gritty, stomach-churning and dark. You’ll be entirely lost in its grip.

Full review to come.

Deadline by Steph McGovern

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, suicide, rape, sexual assault, grooming, paedophilia, police brutality

This was a solid thriller that went into some dark territory. It builds on its interesting premise and delivers a complex and fascinating story.

The Tutor by Courtney Psak

🧠

CW: murder, death, violence, gaslighting, manipulation, rape, shooting

While I enjoyed the set-up and ending of this book, the middle didn’t quite land for me. I think it was something with the pacing and how the reveals felt a little too obvious.

Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley

🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: murder, death, violence, war, PTSD, sexism, misogyny, war crimes

This was both a love letter to Christie and a delightful new addition to the world of Miss Marple. Foley pays careful homage and her signature style with a captivating and conniving story.

Full review to come.

If Books Could Kill by Kate Eberle

🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, stalking, immolation, suicide, grief

This was a solid thriller, if a little predictable at times. The conceit allows for this though and plays with tropes as it weaves in this romance too. It wasn’t quite my favourite but enjoyable.

Lies We Told This Summer by Emily Barr

🧠⭐️

CW: murder, death, violence, gaslighting, manipulation, sexual harassment, stalking, infidelity

As usual with Barr’s work, this was a solid YA thriller with enjoyable twists and characterisation that felt believable. I liked the exploration of Cat’s family dynamic too.

The Time of the Fire by Emma Kavanagh

⭐️🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, fire, infidelity, addiction, grief

What a brilliant premise! This thriller uses multiple timelines split by one fateful event to explore the idea of the butterfly effect in fascinating ways.

How to Survive a Horror Sequel by Scarlett Dunmore

🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, indoctrination, PTSD, anxiety, traumatic flashbacks

I enjoyed the very strong Wicker Man vibes to this book and how certain elements of sequels are parodied, played with and undermined. It is a fun and very meta YA horror series.

Death Writ Large by Susie Dent

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, murder, violence, injury, fire, stalking, suicide, grief, blackmail

I thoroughly enjoyed Dent’s fiction debut Guilty by Definition and this is a triumphant sequel with a brilliant puzzle at its core and a welcome return of enjoyable characters that I am looking forward to seeing grow further.

Full review here.

Ruinous Ends by I. V. Marie

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, violence, injury, torture, suicide

Immortal Consequences realised such a fantastic idea and this sequel pushes the world-building even further. The characterisation sings and the ending was beautiful, even as I felt it lost a little steam in-between.

Reliquary by Hannah Whitten

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: death, body horror, grief, stalking, murder, injury, infidelity, mental illness

This is an exquisite horror story that delves into some of humanity’s worst fears and ponders what happens when something stares back at you from the unknown. Whitten has crafted something special here.

Full review here.

72 Hours of You by Darianne Schramm

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠💙

CW: death, grief, illness, PTSD, anxiety

This reminded me of just how wonderful YA contemporary can be. It has this speculative edge that explores grief, death and the fleeting beauty of life in such wonderful ways. Prepare to sob.

Full review here.

Eyes of Kings by Chloe Gong

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠

CW: murder, death, violence, torture, mass casualties, blood, injury

This is unfortunately one of my biggest disappointments of of 2026 so far. I was so excited for this epic finale and just came away flat. There are some great twists and moments but ultimately it let me down.

Dead Girls by Beck Kubrick

⭐️🏳️‍🌈🧠💙

CW: death, murder, grief, graphic violence, injury, sexism, misogyny, execution, blood

This was such a brilliant debut with wonderfully evocative and eerie illustrations. It feels like such a fleshed-out world with believable characters, great twists and a bubbling sense of rage coming from the pages.

Full review to come.