Category: Book Review

Book Review

The Thrashers

TheShelfLife

The Thrashers by Julie Soto

Publication Date: May 2025

Overall Verdict: Fast-paced and will keep you wanting to read more! A solid thriller about a group of friends and just how far people will go to protect their secrets.  

4/5 Stars

Book Summary: Jodi has been friends with Zack Thrasher since they were kids.  Now that they are in high school, she has found herself in a group known as The Thrashers.  The Thrashers are popular, rich and everyone wants to be friends with them.  When Emily, one such hopeful, dies everyone begins to question the group’s involvement.  As the police investigate the apparent suicide, secrets come out and The Thrashers are accused of harassment.  Emily’s journal comes to light, and strange things start to happen that put The Thrashers in danger, and Jodi must decide which secrets she wants to keep.

My Analysis:  I did not want to stop reading this one once I started!  It was very fast-paced, and I really wanted to know what happened and what the characters were going to do next.  Trigger warning: a teen dies by suicide – it is not graphically explained but is often discussed.  There is also a lot of partying throughout the book, and it is very normalized as teens drink heavily and do some drugs.  Because of the amount of partying that happens, this may lend to older YA readers.  Those warnings aside, this was a solid thriller.  Although Jodi could be slightly annoying at times with how she responded to certain things or seemed totally oblivious when it wouldn’t have been likely, I was intrigued by the characters and their relationships toward one another.  The concept of bullying was well done I thought, and you got to see the introspection of the characters in the aftermath of events.  What they did, how they did it and why are all twisted around into some crazy secrets. I feel like I can’t really do this book justice with an analysis without spoiling too much of the plot! If you’re looking for a thriller that revolves around friendship and secrets, I’d definitely recommend this one.

Book Review

How Bad Things Can Get

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How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates

Publication Date: August 2025 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Extremely descriptive and gory but underwhelming and forced in terms of plot and character development.

3/5 Stars

Book Summary: Online influencer Eton creates a lavish atmosphere on his own island and invites hundreds of his fans and fellow influencers to take part in a 5-day series of games.  Wanting to actually have some fun and put away the memories of her past life in a notorious cult, Ruth joins her friends on the island.  As she holds on to her secret of being the sole survivor of the cult, she begins to question the motivations and actions of those around her.  As people start to go missing or are found dead, Ruth must face the truth that she has not completely escaped her past.

My Analysis:  I have to start this off by saying I really adore Darcy Coates’s works, and this is the first of hers that I have read that I did not enjoy.  I found the pacing to be incredibly slow and drawn-out way too much, so much so that I almost chose to DNF.  There was one thing that kept me going and piqued my curiosity, but ultimately, I don’t feel it was worth it.  I get where Coates was trying to come from with how her story unfolded, but to me it seemed like she was unnecessarily trying to put two completely separate stories together in a way that seemed to be way too much of a stretch.  I will give a warning that this novel is filled with very descriptive gore scenes and murder, and if you are into that, those were very well written.  They definitely aren’t for everyone though.  I read this to see if it could be an adult title that could crossover to YA readers, and aside from the fact I didn’t care for the story, I would probably avoid putting it in the hands of general YA readers with how intense some of the descriptions were.  Ruth’s character was interesting some of the time and it was compelling to hear of her past experiences in the cult she grew up in.  But again, everything about this story felt very forced to me.  I gave it as high of a rating as I did simply because the writing itself was good, even though the plot was severely lacking and characters other than Ruth were under-developed.  If you really want to read some gore, give this one a try, but otherwise I’d recommend reading any of the other titles by this author instead.

Book Review

The Poppy Fields

TheShelfLife

The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick

Publication Date: June 2025 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A wonderfully constructed speculative fiction novel that dives deep into grief and its impact on those left behind, with memorable characters.

4.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: An experimental and controversial treatment center has opened up in the desert of California.  At this center known as The Poppy Fields, those suffering from grief or heartbreak can choose to be put into a prolonged sleep to be awoken and cured of the pain they are feeling.  There is however a chance of a pretty significant side effect.  As four strangers join together on their separate journeys to The Poppy Fields, they learn about one another and come to terms with some of the heartache that has brought each of them to this place.

My Analysis: I am a big fan of speculative fiction, and this concept (and of course the author!) drew me in.  The characters shared in this novel are so individually unique and yet all going through various versions of loss.  They are all very well developed, and the story is constructed in such a way that you deeply come to know and feel for these characters.  I enjoyed that Erlick kept up her trend as with The Measure and made some connections among characters and plot points, which made for an interesting read.  If you are currently going through a loss, you may not want to dive into this one while the feelings are fresh, as the concept of grief is at the forefront of the story and is emotionally described throughout.  The only reason I did not give this one a full 5 stars is because I did find the pacing to be a bit slow to start out.  This is a thought-provoking novel, and if you are a fan of The Measure or of adult speculative fiction, I recommend this one. I also think this has crossover potential for mature YA readers.

Book Review

Not Quite Dead Yet

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Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

Publication Date: July 2025| Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: An adult novel that still reads like YA.  There is some potential and suspense, but between an awkward writing style and a lack of a genuine main character, this falls flat.

2/5 Stars

Book Summary: 27-year-old Jet has returned home after attempting college, deciding that she would figure out how else to make her mark on the world.  On Halloween night however, she is attacked and sustains a severe head injury.  Doctors inform Jet that she has only seven days left to live, before succumbing to an aneurysm.  Determined to piece together who attempted to murder her and why, she teams up with a childhood friend to track down evidence and suspects.  As her condition deteriorates with each passing day, Jet realizes her family and friends have more secrets than she could have imagined.

My Analysis:  Jackson is attempting to break into adult novels with Not Quite Dead Yet, but this still reads very much like her YA works.  Other than it being a character in her twenties and the fact that there is a bit more profanity scattered throughout, there really isn’t much that would make it stand out as an adult title.  Which may work for some crossover YA readers who could be interested.  Overall, I was disappointed with her writing.  The sentence structure was very abrupt and disjointed and it took away from the narrative.  There is potential with this title and the idea of a woman solving her attempted murder under a time crunch.  I think the best part of the entire novel was Jet’s relationship and reconnection with her childhood friend.  I did find Jet’s character to be very unlikeable.  Which may have partly been intentional, but it made it challenging for me to even be on her side to want to know what happened to her.  I do also think that she was far too glib about the concept of her dying.  She would continually make unnecessary jokes or put off people who wanted to see her when she knew she had a limited window left.  I found that to be a bit disingenuous and it actually bothered me on a personal level.  There were some moments of suspense throughout which were mildly intriguing, but I will admit I did see the “big twists” coming.  If you are a YA reader and a fan of her other novels, you may also enjoy this one.  If you are an adult mystery thriller reader, I’d skip this one.

Book Review

Wandering Wild

TheShelfLife

By Lynette Noni, Narrated by Nikki Thomas and Heath Miller

Publication Date: May 2025| Thanks NetGalley for an ARC | Audiobook Version

Overall Verdict: Fantastic and engaging from start to finish, this title will keep you rooting for romance as well as survival.

5/5 Stars

5/5 Stars for Narration

Book Summary: Zander is a Hollywood star, but his reputation of late has been problematic.  Attempting to quickly fix his public image, he agrees to go on a wilderness show with a fan.   Charlie, thanks to her best friend, finds herself the winner of the competition and alongside Zander on a wilderness journey.  This proves to be challenging, as Charlie has come to resent Zander and his newfound image.  Everything starts to fall apart when Zander and Charlie separate from TV show star Rykon, and have to continue their adventure together.  As they battle real danger Zander and Charlie must learn to trust one another and open up about their pasts.

My Analysis: If you’re looking for a realistic fiction that has a solid romance story but takes it a step further and provides some compelling but serious topics, this one is for you.  I absolutely loved this from start to finish.  The characters are interesting, well developed and you will find yourself rooting for them.  Even though Zander is a movie star, you get to see the real emotions and experiences he has faced in his past.  Is it unlikely that Charlie will end up on a reality show with a celebrity? Yes, but it honestly worked for this novel without it seeming too far-fetched.  The plot is entertaining and suspenseful with the inclusion of perilous nature encounters.  I highly recommend this one and if you have the option for an audiobook, the narrators were absolutely perfect.

Book Review

Don’t Let the Forest In

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Don’t Let the Forest In by CG Drews

Publication Date: October 2024| Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Not a book everyone will love, but those who do will fall deep into the characters and their monsters.

4.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Andrew finds solace in Thomas and his twin sister Dove. They are what get him through days at Wickwood Academy. Andrew finds balance with Thomas’s drawings of the dark and twisty fairytale stories he writes. When arriving back at school, Thomas learns his parents are missing with a bloody mess left behind. As he pulls away from everyone, Andrew realizes that Thomas is not only fighting internal monsters, but actual monsters of his drawings come to life.

My Analysis: This is not a book that everyone will enjoy, you have to be willing to tolerate the slow pace and really getting to know the deeper minds of the characters in order to fully appreciate it. I think this particularly applies to the general YA reader population. The style of writing is very artistic as well, with a TON of imagery throughout. That being said, I thought it was great. I was a little skeptical at first, but once I got into it I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The way the author describes some of Andrews thoughts is truly mesmerizing. The depth of Andrew and Thomas’s relationship toward one another…chef’s kiss. There are some trigger warnings to be aware of, which are also presented at the start: depiction of eating disorders, self-harm, and quite a bit of blood/gore. There is a solid twist towards the end that I did not see coming, but very much appreciated. If you’re looking for something hauntingly beautiful and deep with a touch of psychological thriller, you need to read this one. Side note, it’s a perfect book to read for the fall season.

Book Review

Murder Between Friends

TheShelfLife

Murder Between Friends by Liz Lawson

Publication Date: April 2025| Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A classic teens try to solve the crime story, but full of suspense that will make you read through this one quickly!

4/5 Stars

Book Summary: Ally, Henry and Grace used to be best friends, until Grace told the police she saw Henry’s brother at the scene of a murder. Their beloved teacher was found murdered, and it’s been two years since Henry’s brother Jake has been in prison for the crime. When Jake ends up being released on a technicality, Grace begins to question what she saw that night. Believing the police are hyper focused on Jake and not looking at anyone else as suspect, the trio band together once again to try and figure out exactly what happened and why.

My Analysis: If you’re accepting of reading the classic mystery trope of a group of teenagers work together to solve a crime, this one is worth the read. I found it to be very suspenseful and the author did a nice job making you question all the characters and their motives. There was also a nice layer of subplot throughout which not only added to the mystery but really helped with character development. The book is divided up into the three friends perspectives, which I wasn’t sure of at first but I warmed to quickly. It did help to be able to see into the brain of each of the three of the friends and get to know them a little better. The one thing that bothered me a little was I was correct with my “whodunnit” guess, which I figured out early on. However, that may not be the case for a YA audience, who I feel would definitely enjoy this one. There was one twist at the very end though that I did NOT see coming, which I appreciated. A solid choice if you want a quick read mystery.

Book Review

The Last Bookstore on Earth

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The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold

Publication Date: January 2025| Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A well-written but one dimensional, post-apocalyptic debut novel.

3.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Ever since The Storm devastated civilization, Liz has secluded herself in the bookstore she used to work at. The Storm caused weather-related damage, including body melting acid rain. Liz has gotten used to her time alone since her only companion left to find out what else was left of the world, until she finds herself with an unexpected intruder turned guest. When Maeve comes into Liz’s life, she pushes her beyond her comfort zone as they continue to survive and prepare for yet another coming Storm.

My Analysis: For a debut novel, I really enjoyed the authors writing style. I felt very connected to the main character Liz and her emotions and experiences both past and present. I however did not care for Maeve’s character at all. I found her to be very annoying and I’m not sure what Liz saw in her really other than the fact that she was simply there. I liked the concept of this novel and of course was intrigued by the idea of her being in a bookstore in an end of the world situation. The novel is all from Liz’s perspective, but does share a past timeline as well. There are also some mini journal entries throughout of others peoples stories. I liked how those all came together to share the overall story. I did find the novel to be a bit one dimensional, I wish there was a little more substance or another subplot to compliment the rest of the main story. Maybe more of the romance between Maeve and Liz as well? It all felt very surface level. I am glad though that there’s another new decent YA dystopian out, it is something lacking right now! If you’re into post-apocalyptic scenarios, give this one a try.

Book Review

If We Tell You

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If We Tell You by Nicola Dahlin

Publication Date: October 2024| Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: An unremarkable thriller that was more confusing and inconceivable than entertaining or suspenseful.

1/5 Stars

Book Summary: Twins Lewis and Cameron find themselves on the run after their parents unexpectedly kill intruders at a community barbecue. Armed with cash, fake identities and the instruction to go to Edinburgh, Scotland they are forced on their own into the unknown. Trying to piece together the clues their parents left behind, while also trying to conceal their true identities, Lewis and Cameron pretend to be one person so they don’t cause any more attention than necessary.

My Analysis: I really don’t like rating a book so low, knowing the blood, sweat and tears that go into writing something and getting it published. But this one just wasn’t good. Not all that much actually happened and the events that did were either confusing or so unrealistic that it was hard to buy into the plot (even for a YA novel). I also didn’t care for the main characters of Cameron or Lewis- here they are on the run and I just couldn’t bring myself to root for them. The novel is split up into both of their perspectives, and for twins that are supposedly so different, I found myself forgetting whose perspective I was in too often. The one thing I did like about this book were the secondary characters, it’s honestly what saved it for me. I kept reading wanting to know what ultimately was going on with the twins parents, but I also found that unsatisfying. Ultimately not one I would buy for the library or recommend, it would definitely be a DNF for too many readers.

Book Review

The Wilde Trials

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The Wilde Trials by Mackenzie Reed

Publication Date: January 2025| Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A little slow to start, but if you enjoy stories about games/competitions, this one is definitely for you.

4/5 Stars

Book Summary: Every year Chloe’s elite boarding school has a wilderness competition, where those participating are pushed to their physical and mental limits. Not only does the winner get bragging rights as champion, they also get a huge monetary reward. Chloe is determined to win this year, and use the money to help pay for her sisters cancer treatments. When someone begins blackmailing Chloe during the games, she is forced to partner up with her ex, Hayes, who just so happens to be investigating his brothers death which also occurred during the competition years before. Lies, deceit, and sabotage are now a part of the game making the challenges that much harder…and also deadly.

My Analysis: I was a little bit torn on this one and ultimately what to rate it, but I think those true YA audience readers will love it. The pacing was a little slow for my liking, and it really didn’t pick up until about 60% in. I was curious enough to know what was going to happen and what would be revealed to keep reading though. Once it did really get going I found myself very invested. I liked the characters and particularly the relationship between Chloe and her sister. Reed does a nice job of making you question the motives of everyone in the game and was able to share some solid character development even when some characters weren’t always on the page as frequently. The ending wrapped up nicely, although it did seem a bit rushed after everything. If you are into stories that are about games or competitions, you will definitely enjoy this one. Lots of clues and challenges within the Wilde Trials themselves as well as other secrets that are simultaneously uncovered.