This was a strong month of studying. It began with GWYNETH, which was a salacious gem of an (unauthorized!) biography however took a bit longer to learn. After that, I simply determined to make it the month of studying thrillers (I learn six, and browse all of them in a short time. Any month that has a brand new launch from Liv Constantine and Sarah Pekkanen is an efficient month certainly. I beloved each of their new books. I additionally actually loved Stacy Willingham‘s newest. Learn on for my opinions!
As at all times, I’d love to listen to what you’re studying—drop your recs within the feedback. I actually store them each month. You possibly can see each guide I’ve learn in The Library, and in addition final month’s studying record!
Non-Fiction
Gwyneth, by Amy Odell
This was a delight. It took me some time to get via (it’s meaty!) nevertheless it was completely unputdownable. I’ve lengthy been a fan of Amy Odell’s writing—her Anna Wintour biography was one other favourite—and I like that she leads with curiosity. Whereas the guide is usually a bit salacious at occasions, it’s by no means mean-spirited or biased. She merely states the information as they’re. Paltrow’s story (and Odell’s guide) is de facto break up into two acts: the ’90s “It woman” period—Spence faculty, Oscar-winning performing profession, tabloid-ready love life—and the “media mogul” years: Goop, wellness, jade eggs, and constructing a way of life empire. It’s juicy in components (Paltrow calls Brad Pitt silly in a number of artistic methods—this got here throughout as actually imply to me), however Odell balances fascination and critique with uncommon talent. She’s at all times honest. As a result of it isn’t licensed and Odell didn’t have direct entry to Paltrow or her interior circle, the second half feels slightly thinner. Nonetheless, that is arguably the guide of summer season 2025: the right poolside learn, completely mesmerizing. You’ll be taught so much—and also you’ll undoubtedly have lots to speak about afterward. General Rating: A- // Order on Bookshop or Amazon
Thrillers
Don’t Open Your Eyes, by Liv Constantine
When Liv Constantine has a brand new guide out, it’s an instantaneous pre-order from me! She’s the queen of the home thriller (and I like that they’re normally set within the NYC/Connecticut space, at all times with wealthy men and women behaving badly). Annabelle Reyolds has a seemingly good life in suburban Connecticut. A doting physician husband, two stunning daughters, and a profitable profession that she loves. Every thing is fantastic till she begins having loopy, upsetting nightmares. And when components of every nightmare start to come back true, she realizes she could be having premonitions. The desires get increasingly weird and scary: a person who isn’t her husband, her daughter getting injured. When she desires that her daughter Scarlett is in imminent hazard (as increasingly from the desires comes true), she struggles to determine what she will and can’t management. This one is an actual nailbiter (and, surprisingly, tender!). It retains you in your toes as we return to Annabelle’s youthful life (and the person she beloved earlier than her husband), and we see issues from her daughter’s perspective (as she makes horrible selections). I couldn’t put it down and devoured it in a number of sittings. General Rating: A- // Order on Bookshop or Amazon
Imply Mothers, by Emma Rosenblum
This guide is a delight—you’ll wish to devour it in a single sitting. It’s my favourite of Rosenblum’s novels but (third time actually is the appeal). She has such a knack for writing about rich girls behaving badly, and Imply Mothers isn’t any exception. We meet Frost, Morgan, and Belle (who felt slightly too impressed by Nell Diamond for my style, although I nonetheless beloved each web page). These girls seemingly have all of it: magnificence, brains, adoring husbands, vanity-project companies, and completely behaved youngsters on the prestigious Atherton Academy. However on the primary day of college, a newcomer arrives. We meet Sofia, glamorous, mysterious, lately divorced, and straight out of Miami. She’s rapidly folded into their tight-knit trio, however her presence coincides with a string of unsettling incidents. Is it coincidence, or is somebody focusing on them? The novel unfolds over one wild faculty yr, mixing biting satire with simply sufficient suspense to maintain you hooked. What I beloved most was the steadiness: it made me snigger out loud whereas protecting me guessing. Imply Mothers is witty, sharp, and addictive. You received’t be capable to put it down. General Rating: A- // Order on Bookshop or Amazon
The Locked Ward, by Sarah Pekkanen
Sarah Pekkanen is considered one of my all-time favourite thriller authors. Every thing she writes is simply. so. good. This was an instantaneous pre-order from me! This one is a sister saga, in additional methods than one. The guide opens with Georgia Cartwright (a glamorous marriage ceremony planner from a rich Charlotte household) locked up in a psychiatric establishment for violent criminals who await their destiny. It’s the crime of the last decade. Georgia (adopted as a new child), has been accused of killing her sister Annabelle (the household’s organic daughter). Because the adopted baby, Georgia was at all times the outsider, made to really feel less-than by her her family. In the meantime, Annabelle had been the golden baby. Alone, with no household to show to, Georgia reaches out to her estranged twin sister (adopted by one other household). Amanda arrives, not sure if she will belief Georgia. What follows is a mad chase to determine what actually occurred on the evening of Annabelle’s homicide. Has Georgia been manipulated and framed by her family? Or is Amanda going to remorse her determination to assist? I tore via it and located the twist very satisfying. Extremely suggest, this can be my favourite of all Pekkanen’s books thus far! General Rating: A // Order on Bookshop or Amazon
The Tenant, by Freida McFadden
I completely beloved this one. Freida McFadden is a genius for plot, although I typically really feel like her writing is dumbed down a bit. I can by no means inform if that is on objective. This one has a twist I didn’t see coming; it smacked me over the pinnacle in the absolute best approach. I learn it in a single sitting: a wet Saturday morning. In case you love twisty thrillers, it is a should. Blake Porter, our deeply unlikeable (but someway nonetheless sympathetic) male protagonist, has misplaced all the pieces. He’s been fired abruptly from his job as VP of selling for a giant advert company and may’t get a job anyplace. Unable to make the mortgage funds on his new brownstone on the Higher West Aspect, he’s determined to make ends meet (and petrified of shedding his stunning fiancée Krista). The 2 resolve to lease out their visitor room to assist pay their payments, which is when Whitney Cross enters the image. Whitney looks as if all the pieces they’re on the lookout for in a roommate. She’s right down to earth, pleasant, charming . . . and really stunning. However one thing is off. The home at all times smells like one thing is rotting. There are unusual noises in the home at evening. Blake begins to really feel like he’s shedding his thoughts. He’s at all times itchy. This new tenant doesn’t appear to be who she says she is in any respect. General Rating: A // Order on Bookshop or Amazon
Overlook Me Not, by Stacy Willingham
Oooh that is such a very good one. Stacy Willingham is creating a repute as The South’s thriller queen and I’m right here for it. I beloved her first two books, favored the third, and beloved this. Claire Campbell is a journalist in New York, struggling to search out her footing. She’s additionally bought a previous: 22 years in the past, her older sister Natalie disappeared. Days later, a person was arrested and the case was closed. Claire’s made each effort to overlook her traumatic previous, however nonetheless can’t shake it. When she returns residence for the summer season to assist her mom, she finds herself drawn to Galloway Farm, a winery on the coast. Natalie had labored there too, and it looks like the right place to earn some more money and spend time. Then, she finds a diary describing all types of unresolved crimes. Claire begins to surprise if the diary could possibly be tied to her sister’s disappearance. She turns into obsessive about the household that owns the farm, questioning if one thing sinister is at hand, decided to unravel it! That is fast-paced, twisty, and haunting; you’ll tear via it wanting to determine what occurred. General Rating: A // Order on Bookshop or Amazon
The Break-In, by Katherine Faulkner
Alice is a rich mom of 1, residing in a gorgeous residence in London, with what appears to be the right life: a job she loves, nice buddies, and an adoring husband who’s saving the world at his non-profit job. One night, Alice is internet hosting a playdate, and a disturbed man breaks into her residence, holding a knife. When Alice kills him, it’s dominated as self-defense, however she will’t shake the sensation that her household was focused. It simply doesn’t really feel just like the crime may have been random. As she begins to delve into the person’s life (even visiting his residence and talking together with his mom below false pretenses), she isolates her husband and buddies. Even worse, horrible issues appear to maintain occurring to her at work and even with the police. Nonetheless, she continues to analyze. Who was this intruder actually, and what did he need. As she digs deeper and deeper, she realizes that the secrets and techniques hit nearer to residence than she ever may have imagined. That is darkish and twisty and goes off the rails. It was a like, however not a love! General Rating: B // Order on Bookshop or Amazon
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