thoughts on books

Category: Psychological thriller

  • The last time we drowned by Saratoga Schaefer

    🚨 If you love influencer drama + locked-room chaos + stormy, slightly unhinged thrillers… this is your next binge.

    The Last Time We Drowned by Saratoga Schaefer is giving luxury yacht meets social media meltdown—and I was completely along for the ride.

    Charlie, a low-key bookish influencer (honestly relatable), gets the opportunity of a lifetime: an invite aboard the Empress, a lavish yacht owned by a billionaire and staffed with a curated group of influencers. Each one sells the fantasy of elite, 1% living—but Charlie is stepping into a role that belonged to someone else… someone who mysteriously disappeared.

    With her best friend gone and her life feeling stuck, Charlie takes the chance. But between the glossy posts, curated personas, and the creeping feeling that something is very off, it quickly becomes clear this trip isn’t what it seems.

    ✨ Think:
    • influencer culture meets psychological thriller
    • a confined, high-tension setting
    • secrets, shifting dynamics, and major storm energy

    This book is pure popcorn thriller goodness. Yes, some twists are a little predictable—but honestly? That didn’t take away from the fun at all. It’s fast, addictive, and once things start spiraling (hello, hurricane season on a yacht with no real captain?!), I could not put it down.

    The characters lean a bit archetypal, but they totally work for the vibe. And if you’ve read Schaefer before, you’ll catch those subtle horror undertones creeping in 👀

    📚 Bottom line:
    If you’re in the mood for a wild, twisty, slightly chaotic thriller that you can devour in a couple sittings—add this to your list.

    And the best part? We’re getting more from Saratoga Schaefer soon… and I am READY.

    Thanks, NetGalley and Cosmo reads for the ARC. Book to be published June 2, 2026.

  • Handle with care by Marybeth mayhew whalen

    🎧📚 AUDIOBOOK REVIEW 📚🎧

    ALC Review — Thank you to NetGalley & Thomas Nelson Audio for the early listen!

    💥 Handle With Care by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen (publishing 4/13/26)

    This one surprised me—in the best way. It’s marketed with a bit of thriller energy, and while there is a tense, hostage situation at the center, this is really a deeply character-driven women’s fiction story about what happens when life pushes you to your breaking point.

    The setup is simple but powerful: three women walk into a post office, another is working the counter—and suddenly everything changes when Nadine’s estranged husband, desperate and fueled by scotch, storms in and takes them hostage after she refuses to reconcile.

    But what makes this story shine is why each woman is there. Each one is mailing something that represents a turning point in her life, and as the situation unfolds, we get layers of their stories, their choices, and what—and who—they’re willing to fight for.

    ✨ My standout character: Morrow. She felt so real and relatable, the kind of character you recognize pieces of yourself in.
    ✨ I also loved Hope, the hostage negotiator—steady, thoughtful, and compelling in a quieter way.

    🎧 And the narration?? Jane Oppenheimer absolutely nailed it. You might think a multi-POV story like this would need a full cast, but she brings such distinct tone and emotion to each character that it’s effortless to follow. Her performance is subtle, immersive, and really lets the emotional weight of the story land.

    This book explores:
    💔 Limits and breaking points
    🛡️ Who we choose to protect
    🔄 Life at a crossroads

    It’s tense, emotional, and quietly powerful—an audiobook that keeps you hooked while also making you feel. I flew through it.

    ⭐️ 4.25 stars — highly recommend

    Every woman will see herself somewhere in these pages.

    AudiobookReview #HandleWithCare #MarybethMayhewWhalen #NetGalley #ThomasNelsonAudio #WomensFiction #Bookstagram #ALCReview #AudiobookLover #EmotionalRead

  • it could have been her by lisa jewell

    A dark mystery thriller about a missing girl. Janie trevalley is 55 years old and wandering around her sprawling and crumbling english estate when she sees a small white scruffy dog. She traces him back to a large country estate that she remembers going to years ago and narrowly escaping as something felt off. What follows is a mystery with layers upon layers, the more we learn the darker and more deviant it becomes.

    Lisa Jewell is a master of the modern thriller, I love the characters, the plot and the pacing. This is absolutely the creepiest one ever, it tap dances over the line from thriller to horror at the end. At the beginning I did find it a bit confusing, there are a lot of people and a long timeline with several characters but for me this came together in a very coherent way.

    Absolutely the creepiest book I have read in a long time! Great mystery.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC. Book to be published June 23, 2026

  • brimstone hollow by archer sullivan

    An exciting thriller about a snake handling preacher who died of an apparent snake bite. A small town appalachia setting with many layers; homophobia in the church and the domino effect of that culture, the generational drug problem, the way that everyone in town has a silver F150. Except for the people who have a black F150.

    Annie Gore is back as a private investigator- she works alongside the police but is a detective for hire and has a classic Datsun that she really babies named “honey.” She is hired by a woman whose biological father died and was buried really quickly of a snake bite with no autopsy. She had a dream or vision about him and she doesn’t think it is a coincidence, so she sends Annie to Brimstone Hollow to see if there is anything fishy. There is.

    What I really enjoyed about this story was that there were aspects of the small town that intersected as you would expect, but the characters always had more than they seemed. It was not all pure stereotypes about people in Kentucky, they were complex characters in the area, some by choice and others by circumstance. I loved the fast pacing and how the setting was complicated and nuanced. The characters were engaging and the ending… WOW! I was hooked. I was a fan of the first and now glad I read this as well!

    Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur books for the ARC. Book to be published August 11, 2026

  • The girls before by Kate Alice marshall

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    Audrey is a teacher on a search and rescue mission. She lost her best friend who went missing years ago, and there is a local girl Megan who went missing very recently. In the woods, there is a witchy story about a witch who helps young women in difficult circumstances or she takes them. There is also a local neighbor who is a creepy old dude. There is also a very powerful family with a politician and generational wealth.

    Typically audio is my go-to format for suspense books- they really keep my interest and have great acting. In this case, I sort of struggled. I usually love Marshall’s writing but this one I found hard to follow on audio. There are alternating viewpoint chapters that are at different time periods- not only that but the trapped woman is known as “Stranger” and doesn’t have a name. Marshall’s a masterful storyteller but I think this one will work better with eyeball rather than ears. I really loved the spooky atmospheric setting and the earlier chapters of Audrey which were captivating!

    Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC. book to be published February 23, 2026

  • Adrift by will dean

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    Two alternating POV- Peggy, the wife of an abusive gaslighter, and her 14 year old son Sampson (if you’re wondering if he gets a haircut in the book, yes he does).

    This book is highly suspenseful and perfectly written, although it is technically thriller, I have to say it nearly reads like horror in the emotional abuse aspect. While realistic, the way that Drew manipulates and controls both Peggy and Sampson is relentless and horrific. So big trigger warning for emotional abuse. I literally had to stop reading at 60% to skip to the end to make sure Drew got his just desserts. My apple watch told
    Me I was too stressed out.

    So if you want a book that makes you feel something you will absolutely want to pick this one up! Drew is a villainous awful person.

    My favorite character? Phoenix. He isn’t introduced until the second half but he has a good back story and a heart of gold.

    Three words to describe the main character? Manipulated. Pitiful. Mother.

    Hollywood cast
    Drew- Jared Leto
    Peggy- Elizabeth Olsen
    Sampson- Tanner Buchanan (from Cobra Kai)

    Thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler for the ARC. Book to be published February 16, 2026

  • they call her regret by channelle desamours

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    Fantastically creepy, suspenseful YA story and a STANDOUT audiobook performance by Kristolyn Lloyd.

    Simone is a privileged teen, although her parents divorced due to her mom’s alcoholism, her dad is retired NFL and she has great friends and going to graduate top in her class. The setting is a farm house and lake where people leave old creepy dolls. The plot involves a very old doll possessed by a demon/ghost.

    It’s stellar YA, good dialogue and plenty of reveals. I adored the pacing. It’s a great story.

    Favorite character? Simone. Very authentic to an 18 year old girl, like able and easy to root for. I felt motherly towards her.

    3 ways to describe the main character? Scared. Smart. Devoted.

    It’s truly 5 ⭐️audio on performance alone. Her voice acting for the witch and ghost and Greta were soooooo creepy and will give you nightmares (complimentary).

    Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC. book to be published February 16, 2026.

  • that night by gillian mccallister

    How far would you be willing to go to help out a sibling? Specifically, would you bury a body for them?

    Joe, Kathy and Frannie are vacationing in Italy when she makes a frantic call to her siblings, she has hit a man and he is dead. They bury the body and promise never to tell anyone. Over the next few weeks, they become a cat and mouse- all are afraid of being caught and Joe starts to realize that there are things that Frannie hasn’t told them. Over time, we learn more and more of the truth about the dead body, and also follow the siblings as they run from the truth.

    At its core, this is a story about loyalty, secrets and family. It is a great thriller, less about the mystery of whodunit and more if they will be caught. A side story is that as a veterinarian we learn a little about that industry and the medical background. From a setting perspective it could have been elsewhere besides Italy, it did not impact the setting that much. I found a lot of the story to be unbelievable but I was able to suspend disbelief and go along for the ride. I enjoyed reading this and found it to be a good story to get lost in.

    Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC. Book to be published August 18, 2026

  • beach thriller by jamie day

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    Holly is a successful author, but it has been a while since she has had a hit. She also has writers’ block, so she is leaving Manhattan for the small beach town that she spent summers in as a kid. Because she is the last surviving member of her family, she is going to inherit the home. What she finds there is a teenage squatter named Jade, who ends up being a very intriguing character as well. What is Jade‘s backstory? I loved Holly and found her to be very relatable, and I found Jade to be very spunky and intriguing as well. I trusted them both and was really surprised by the ending.

    And what happened to Hollie‘s sister Anna? After working at the rich family the Carmichaels estate, she ends up dead in a gas explosion in their guest cottage. But was this an accident?

    This is my favorite Jamie Day thriller so far, while technically it takes place in a beach town, that isn’t very important to the setting. However, I do think it would be the perfect popcorn thriller to read on the beach! I read the entire book on a flight, and was very engrossed in the story. I could have done without Ethan, I thought that Holly‘s character was intriguing enough without a romantic arc. I was shocked at the ending, and didn’t see that coming at all! If you like a twisty, popcorn thriller, add this one to your TBR.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Saint Martin’s press for the arc. Booked to be published June 8, 2026

    SMPEarlyReaders

  • the good mothers by caitlin weaver

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    Exactly the kind of heart wrenching drama and thriller I always expect from Caitlin Weaver. She is absolutely an auto-buy author for me and for good reason. Her books are often on kindle unlimited, and they always have strong female leads and always shitty dudes. I gotta say, I love this formula.

    In this case we follow Lacey, who is down on her luck- going through a divorce from her awful ex husband Judd (the perfect name for him)- he is vile and won’t pay for their son Elliott’s ADHD medication or even administer it to him when he is with him. Judd is fighting Lacey for custody. She is fired from a job and accidentally hits a parked car. Life is hard. Then she finds a group of moms in communal living who share living expenses and child care and offer a loving environment for their kids.

    Elliott is a dollface 8 year old, but parenting a child with an ADHD diagnosis is always challenging even in the best of circumstances. I really was so sucked in and wanted to throw my kindle across the room at Lacey’s custody issues. The moms get her the opportunity to be an executive assistant and get a job better than the one she has before— but are they hiding something?

    If you love a thriller but you aren’t interested in the higher stakes- bloody murdering or random type thrillers, Caitlin Weaver proves you can have a beachy-popcorn thriller that is just as much of a page turner without all that.

    Thanks to @netgalley and storm publishing for the ARC. Book to be published January 15, 2026