Book Reviews by Genre: Fiction

Jane is trying to get through her internship as a medical student. Yet it seems like she can't do anything right to please her senior resident, who seems determined to make Jane's job impossible. The only thing keeping Jane sane is the surgeon who she finds incredibly attractive, and who has also taken an interest in her. As Jane tries to navigate her new life of being a doctor, she comes to terms with who she is.

"The Devil Wears Scrubs" is a slice of life, which is outside the genre of most of Freida McFadden's books. Although overall the concept was interesting, I found Jane to be a frustrating character and there really not being much of a plot.

Millie needs a job, and quickly if she doesn't want to break the terms of her parole. So, when she's hired by Nina Winchester as a housemaid, she can't believe it. The Winchester's are an extremely wealthy family, and Millie can't help but notice that Nina's husband, Andrew, is particularly handsome. All seems to be going well until suddenly it's not. Nina's behaviors are sporadic and eccentric, and she often lashes out at Millie, going back on her word and constantly placing the blame on Millie. Millie's only comfort is Andrew, who, against her better judgement, she continues to get closer to. Except when the time finally comes for Millie to know the truth... nothing is as it seems.

"The Housemaid" is an interesting read, although the plot twist is definitely not as surprising as some of Freida McFadden's other work.

Dan has tried to move on from the traumatic event that happened in his childhood. He is now successfully working in a prison, his job revolving around treating patients and understanding why they committed crimes. So when he gets a call that his father is likely dead, Dan's life is turned upside down. Returning to his home island, Dan becomes suspicious of the circumstances of his father's disappearance. As he continues to investigate, the events from his past make their way into his life... and everything comes together.

"The Man Made of Smoke" is an interesting thriller that does a good job of showing the complexities of father son relationships. The plot twist was definitely unexpected and not in the greatest of ways and somewhat made the whole book slightly confusing. Overall, it was a good read.

Paris can't believe what's happening; it just can't be real. As she awaits trial for the murder of her husband she can't help but wonder how she got here. Despite the lengths she went to escape her past, it all seems to be coming right back after her. Drew is furious Ruby Reyes is getting out of prison. He knows exactly the type of women Ruby Reyes was and the lies she's told the media. Little does Drew know Ruby Reyes and Paris are connected in a way he never expected. Ruby knows Paris' secret, and Paris is willing to do anything to ensure that secret never gets out.

"Things We Do in the Dark" was a very interesting and twisty read. The switch between two storylines was difficult to follow at first and definitely took away from the book. Overall, however the characters were relatable, and the plot twist was amazing.

Tom wants a new start with his son Jake, who isn't handling the recent passing of his mother well, in fact neither of them are. So, when Jake falls in love with a new house in a new town, Tom takes the opportunity. Except the house makes him nervous and he can't help but notice that Jake's unusual behavior hasn't ended. In that same town a tragedy has hit. A tragedy eerily similar to one that happened twenty years ago, with the man responsible behind bars. As the police continue to investigate and Tom and Jake try to settle in, the case and their life become intertwined in a way they never expected.

"The Whisper Man" was an amazing read, although hard to get into. It mixes real life and supernatural elements perfectly, leaving some answers to questions to the readers imagination.

Paul Sheldon, the bestselling author of the Misery book series, crashes his car in the wilderness of Colorado just after finishing his latest book. Gravely injured and unable to walk, he is rescued by Annie Wilkes - a self-proclaimed "number one fan" of his work. She nurses him back to health in her house, all the while reading his latest Misery novel. However, when she discovers that Paul has killed off her favorite character, she reveals how unstable she truly is. Holding Paul captive, Annie forces him to write another book that will bring Misery back to life. There is no escape - and Paul soon finds that his "number one fan" will use any means necessary to force him to write his newest book...

"Misery" has to be one of my favorite Stephen King novels. The very relevant themes of obsession and addiction that he explores - along with the suspenseful and thrilling plot - made it impossible for me to put this book down! The plot is very well thought-out, and King's writing puts the reader into Paul's mind, allowing them to experience his thoughts, addiction, and pain firsthand. The idea, execution, and writing style of this book are truly amazing, creating a well-rounded and captivating story. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes psychological horror - especially those who have already watched the movie adaptation of "Misery". Although the film does a phenomenal job of telling this story, the inclusion of Paul's thoughts, the slightly different (and more terrifying!) ending, and King's writing itself makes this book a must-read for preexisting "Misery" fans!

Wool is single-handedly the best politically dystopian book I have ever read, as well as #2 best book I have ever read. Howey masterfully extricates critical thought from the reader, not even mentioning some really deep aspects of what a political situation might fully manifest, causing the reader to add their own reasons they generated implied from this epic presentation of situations to more obvious reasons explicitly stated as an ever-present apex of human analysis in Wool. Consider satire -- presented simply and relatively easy to understand. Even slightly comical. But when analyzed and context is applied, it becomes a powerful tool, causing the reader to read in reverence at the wisdom of the author. Although not satire, Wool certainly gave me reverence toward Hugh Howey. If I were to see him walking down the street, a great effort would be made on my part to engage in conversation, second only to Ted Dekker. This critical thought and other implied assumptions left me feeling respected as a reader -- my intelligence is welcome for more than guessing the future plot: understanding the story. I believe the more intelligent the person, the more they will enjoy Wool.

Wool is book one of the Silo series. Book two is technically a prequel (to the perspective of the world, not Howey) but definitely read Wool before Shift. Incredibly powerful as a stand-alone, the Silo series collectively can move mountains. After finishing Dust, I began tearing up. I never tear up. For such a logical book where every decision is made rationally (until Juliet), Howey elicited an emotional response from me. The theme stressed across the Silo series is: "For so long we have chosen to do what is logical and rational. What statistically makes sense. But I fear the solution to this problem lies in doing what is right. Following the heart and not the brain." (NOT a quote from the Silo series).

As an aspiring engineer with straight As, this hit me hard. As someone who seeks efficiency and celebrates structure this broke me. In that moment when I realized what Howey was trying to drive through my logically intelligent but emotionally stubborn mind, I had to STOP reading. I read the paragraph three times. Respecting Howey for his political depth and logical nuance, I was offended for but one second when this dawned of me. And then I realized he was right.

Go make a realization.

Amity Island is a famous summer vacation destination for the wealthy elites. Full-time residents of Amity depend on this business to survive during the winter months - so, when a woman is brutally killed by a shark on a late-night swim, Mayor Vaughan refuses to let Police Chief Brody close the beaches. Instead, they cover the incident up, hoping to attract tourists for the upcoming Fourth of July celebration. However, the shark claims three more victims, and the situation becomes dire. Soon, it is apparent that the fish will not be stopped unless it is killed. Driven by his guilt, Brody, along with oceanographer Matt Hooper and fisherman Quint, team up to hunt down and kill the shark before it is too late.

I watched the movie adaptation of "Jaws" before reading the book, because I was interested in learning more about the cultural implications that stemmed from the portrayal of sharks in both versions. After reading the original adaptation, I was pleasantly surprised! "Jaws" explores slightly darker themes of guilt and responsibility for those like the police chief and mayor who did not close the beaches after the first attack, and the plot and character dynamics are deeper, darker, and more meaningful than those in the movie. The horror and suspense in this story were spot on, and the ending was amazing, pushing forward these same sinister and captivating motifs. Even though this book had a slightly dated feel with the situations, characters, and their actions, I was still immersed in the world and, despite already knowing the ending, wanted to know what would happen next. For fans of the movie "Jaws" or those interested in the story, I would definitely recommend this book!

Rebecca Sommers has the perfect life; a perfect husband, children, and farm to live on. Well, she has a perfect life according to her Instagram, which Lizzie can't seem to stop scrolling through. This new Rebecca, a stay at home influencer mom who is constantly posting perfect videos, is nothing like the one Lizzie new in college; nothing like the Bex that was once her best friend. Still bitter over their last interaction a decade ago, Lizzie is shocked when Rebecca reaches out and invites her to and influencer event. Agreeing to go, Lizzie has high hopes of reconnecting with her once closest friend. Except shortly after she arrives things go downhill. She soon learns that not everything is as perfect as it seems...
This was a decent book, with the slight plot twist being pretty interesting. The book is told from different perspectives, offering a better understanding of everything that had and does happen.

Abby desperately wants a baby. Nothing has worked out; not the treatments and not the potential adoptions. Losing hope and grieving with her husband, Sam, Abby is shocked when a solution finally arises: Monica. Monica is Abby's assistant at work and has offered to be Abby's surrogate. Despite the deep worry Abby feels, she convinces Sam, who doesn't like the idea, that this is the chance to finally have a child. With the conditions set and off to a great start with Monica, Abby is ecstatic about the future of being a mother. Except, when things start going downhill and Monica's behavior begins to raise concerns. As Abby becomes even more suspicious of Monica, she experiences a downhill spiral of events. Abby, with no one to turn to, realizes that Monica may not be such a miracle after all...

Margret "Jet" Mason's motto has always been "there's always later." But everything changes when, on Halloween night, someone breaks into her house and fatally hits her on the back of the head three times. The doctors tell her that, due to the resulting brain aneurism, Jet only has seven more days left to live. Determined to solve her own murder, Jet and her childhood friend, Billy, set out to expose the secrets surrounding that night. With Jet's time running out, they must find the killer before it is too late.

"Not Quite Dead Yet" is one of the best books I have read all year. Holly Jackson blended her signature captivating murder mystery with an almost "The Fault in Our Stars"-style doomed romance, causing me to completely fall in love with this book! Not only were the characters both relatable and loveable, but I was moved to tears by how real all the situations felt. This book is a perfect mix of a thrilling and twisty mystery and heartbreaking love story, perfectly executed with Jackson's amazing writing style. I would recommend "Not Quite Dead Yet" to anyone, regardless of whether or not YA murder mysteries are your go-to genre, as the unique plot makes this book truly one of a kind.

"The Wedding People" is a book about a divorced woman named Phoebe who goes to a fancy hotel in Rhode Island. Little does she know, there's a big wedding happening while she's there. She meets the bride, who confides in her whenever something happens. The two become friends quickly, as they bring out different sides in each other. One night, Phoebe goes to relax in the hotel hot tub, and she meets a man there. The two talk, and Phoebe realizes that this stranger brings something out in her that she hasn’t experienced before.

“The Wedding People” is definitely one of my favorite books that I have read. The characters feel so human with all their flaws, feelings, and experiences. Every single character is likable in their own way. Multiple characters have character development that benefits the storyline. Their realizations and discoveries are so poetic that I felt the emotions behind the writing. The author phrases things so well, it feels like you are experiencing what is happening. The book is able to cover heavy topics without being smothering or ridiculous. The plot twists were unpredictable and surprising, but they were realistic and believable. Overall, this book is truly a work of art that I really enjoyed.

If you are looking for the perfect enemies to lovers/romantasy look no further! Fourth Wing is a masterpiece by Yarros who combines master world building skills with an exciting and engaging plot. I really liked Violet's determination, perseverance, and acceptance of her circumstances. Her character was well rounded and a 5-star narrator. Xaden and Violet's chemistry was off the charts, and it really added that final piece to the plot. I would definitely read again and again and again. This is the perfect book for romance and fantasy lovers.

"Guardian Demon" is a romance book set in a world where angels and demons exist. The story follows our two main characters, an angel and a demon. Sunshine, the female angel main character, is assigned a mission to retrieve a book from a demon. The other main character is a male demon named Raum. Sunshine decides to form a contract, forcing Raum to help her on her mission. The two start the mission disliking each other, but as the mission progresses, they begin to grow closer.

I started reading this book without knowing that it was part of a series. Despite this, the book introduced new things, while also explaining stuff from the previous books. The author develops the characters, and they maintain consistent personalities throughout the book. The romance between the two main characters is well fleshed out and gave me butterflies on occasion. Overall, this book is very good and I would definitely recommend it to fans of fantasy and romance books!

"The Tenant" is a chilling thriller that will you leave you questioning if you should ever open your home to strangers...
Things are not going well for Blake. Having just lost his job (and dignity) Blake faces intense stress over how he's going to pay off his house and make a living for him and his fiancé. Felling incredibly grateful to his fiancé, Krista, for still sticking around, he continues to search for ways to make money. When Krista suggest they rent out a room in the house, Blake is hesitant, but not for long when he realizes this might give him the break he needs. Whitney is a perfect candidate to be a tenant and everything goes perfectly at first. That is, until Blake becomes convinced Whitney is becoming vindictive and malicious towards him. With no one believing him, Blake is determined to figure out who Whitney really is and to stop her from tormenting his life. Except what he finds is far from what he expected...
"The Tenant" was a really interesting read and definitely kept me on my toes and needing to know what happens next.

Quinn has done something no one else can know about. Except her actions are sure to be found out, and quickly, so she makes the only decision that could possibly keep her out of trouble: run. Packing her things and leaving her small town as quickly as possible, Quinn hits the road, trying to come to terms with the events leading up to the incident. Driving into a storm, Quinn pulls into a small motel that's empty except for one other guest, who's more of a tenant. During her short stay Quinn begins to question the other guest and the owner of the motel and is soon to learn a dark secret...
"Do Not Disturb" was incredibly intriguing and took a deep dive into the dangers of abusive relationships, with Quinn being a relatable character. Told from three different perspectives, "Do Not Disturb" is definitely worth reading!

"Baby City" was a great slice of life book that offers a unique perspective into the lives of OB/GYN doctors. If you're a fan of Frieda McFadden like I am, this is definitely different than her usual work, but worth the read.
"Baby City" follow Dr. Emily McCoy, who can never seem to catch a break at work. Trying to come to terms with her feelings for her ex-husband, having to teach the new medical student (who can never seem to give Emily a break), work friends, and the new handsome intern, Emily is in a constant state of activity. We watch Emily battle feelings and wonder if doing the right thing is worth risking her status and job…

"The Silence" by Tim Lebbon follows the Andrews family as they are thrust into an apocolyptic world. Vesps, creatures that hunt using their unnaturally-sensitive hearing, have emerged from an isolated underground cave. As their deadly swarm spreads from country to country, the Andrews family must do whatever they can to survive. Told from Ally, a deaf teenager, and her father, Huw's perspectives, the world soon becomes unrecognizable and silence becomes safety.

I watched the movie "A Quiet Place" before reading the British book it was based off of - and I was pleasantly surprised at the differences between the two! "The Silence" is a jaw-dropping science-fiction book that will pull you in and lead you through its intriguing plot, each stunning and gruesome twist keeping you guessing from beginning to end! Lebbon did a great job of making a unique and believable horror story, and the characters in this book were relatable and easy to connect with. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone - it's very easy to read even if you aren't a huge fan of sci-fi or horror!

This book was absolutely amaze! It's a thought-provoking science fiction novel in which the protagonist has to find a solution to the world-ending microorganisms, Astrophage. It just so happens that this book was a required reading in one of my classes. The protagonist has a fantastic sense of humor and chemistry with the other character, Rocky. I loved how there were two timelines that progressively revealed more information about how our protagonist ended up in their current position, as the protagonist figures that out himself. All of the science in this book was well thought out and was explained in a mostly easy-to-understand way. It felt like every chapter was a cliffhanger, and every plot twist was surprising in a way that, when looking back, seems obvious. My one and only critique of the story is that the ending felt a bit rushed, and it seemed like the roadblocks during the end were solved without going into depth about the solutions. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy science fiction; it was my all-time favorite.

I picked Cold Sassy Tree out of a total of 4 books for my summer reading assignment last year. I was looking for something that interested me, so, fiction. But I also challenged myself with a realistic type of fiction - historical fiction. Set in a fictional Georgian town, the setting is when the first automobiles were becoming mass-produced (an exciting element to the story).

The beginning and first half of the book was painfully slow for my sci-fi reader brain. There was very little action. I managed to plow through it savoring every little bit of drama and emotion in the conversation. Had it not been an assignment I probably wouldn't have made it past the midpoint of the book, but in hindsight, I'm very glad I persevered.

The first half is kind of a blur - same-old same-old establishing routines and personalities. She character- and world- built quite well, just slowly. In the second half the action happens - the main character has a close encounter with a train, nearly flies out of a car, almost witnesses his Grandpa's 30-year-old girlfriend leave him, and so much more.

The book begins when Grandpa's first and only wife dies. The scandal builds when he hires a 30-year-old maid to clean his house for him. Within a month (if I recall correctly) of his wife of 30+ years dying, he declares his love for this maid and wants to marry her. But she carries her dignity highly and wants to wait. Quite some comedic effect is brought into the story as the younger has to restrain the older. The book was on the fence in between predictable and surprising. Some parts had me rolling my eyes at cliche comments, but others had me staying up late, thirsting for more action and twist.

April is famous for her amazing baking, which she has turned into a YouTube channel. Everyone knows April and from her perspective life is going well and she has no enemies. So why is she getting ominous text messages about things someone could only know if they were watching her? As April attempts to pinpoint who's sending her these disturbing messages, her suspicion of her new neighbor sky rockets. Yet there's more to the story than meets the eye... and the person tormenting April knows her darkest secrets...
"Want To Know A Secret" was a finish it in one day type of intriguing. This book really shows how one person's perspective can be quite convincing but not always reliable. I was a bit perplexed with the plot twist and found it hard to adjust to the rest of the book, but the plot twist definitely changes the story a great deal in an almost creepy way.

Sylvia needs a job; her life isn't going as planned and she desperately wants to get away from her ex who can't seem to let the past be. So when she meets incredibly handsome and charming Adam Barnett who offers her a job taking care of his wife, Victoria, who was in a tragic accident, she says yes. Of course that means overlooking the fact the Barnetts live hours outside of NYC and ignoring her ever growing attraction to Adam. Sylvia begins to feel a bond with Victoria, who cannot walk or speak full sentences any more since her tragic accident. However, Sylvia also begins to notice how desperately Victoria is trying to tell her things, which is when she finds Victoria's diary containing her life since she met Adam. As Sylvia continues to read the diary, take care of Victoria, and grow even closer to Adam, she can no longer distinguish between lies and truth.
"The Wife Upstairs" began as an intriguing story with a lot of potential and was overall a decent read. However I wasn't a fan of how the book ended and the predictability of the ending. It was hard to connect with Sylvia who goes back and forth between what she thinks is the truth and is indecisive the entire book.

Life has been rocky for Tegan ever since the night she got pregnant. Alone, close to her due date, and desperately wanting a better life for her baby, Tegan has a plan to make sure this happens. When that plan goes south, Tegan decides to take a road trip to stay with her brother for the extra support. On her way there a snow storm hits and Tegan's car runs off the road, ending in a broken ankle and totaled car. Panic lessens when Tegan notices a man coming her way and helps her out of the car, taking her back to his house. There is something about this man that unsettles Tegan, but she's glad he has a wife who happens to be a nurse. The first night seemed to go so well, with Tegan being cared for by the wife. Yet, when she's told the next day it's impossible to leave Tegan begins noticing things that make her suspicious of this couple's true motive...
"The Crash" was a great book about a young women simply trying to navigate motherhood. The plot twists of this book were intriguing and kept you rooting for Tegan the whole time. The book also does a great job at showing the complexities of grief, and the things it will drive people to do.

Imagine growing up in a haunted house your family fled after barely living there for three weeks... or, at least, that's what Maggie Holt's father claimed in his book that made his family famous. Except Maggie doesn't believe one word of the book even more so due to the fact her parents never spoke about the events that happened there. Hoping Baneberry Hall is something of her past, Maggie is more than shocked to hear she has inherited it since her father's passing. With big plans to renovate and sell for a big sum, Maggie makes her way back to her short-lived childhood home. Yet the longer she stays the more odd occurrences that happen, making her question the reality of events described by her father. As the truth begins to unravel, Maggie realizes that what happened in Baneberry Hall is much more complicated than her father's famous book lets on...
"Home Before Dark" was a good read that definitely had a surprising ending. I do wish the ending had been more climactic but overall the plot is engaging.

When Nora was a young girl she learned the most sinister secret of her family; her father was murdering young women in their basement. Nora successfully kept this information about her past concealed for nearly three decades and she plans on keeping it that way. Now a surgeon, Nora keeps to herself and work, which she’s extremely talented at. Then something horrible happens; one of her patients is murdered with her father’s MO. Shocked by the news and even more shocked by the fact she’s the prime suspect due, Nora begins to feel her world falling apart. As pieces begin putting themselves together, Nora learns yet another family secret...
"The Locked Door" was enthralling and definitely had a twist at the end. The book instantly makes you think you know who is committing the crimes then takes a whole different path. I appreciated this set up and the narrative of Nora, who’s a likeable character trying to move on from her past. I do wish the book dwelled more on why her father committed the crimes, but overall it’s a book I would recommend.

"The Perfect Child" follows Hannah and Christopher, a loving couple with one problem: they have had no success in having children. When one day a little girl appears at the hospital they both work at, Christopher is immediately drawn to her and when the opportunity arises convinces Hannah they should bring her home. The little girl, Janie, has been through a lot, and Hannah and Christopher both recognize the behavioral issues bound to present themselves due to her situation. But Janie’s behavior is beyond what they expected, with her outbursts falling onto Hannah. Christopher is not as convinced as Hannah that something is seriously wrong with Janie and tension starts to build between all three of them. As incidents begin happening that can no longer be overlooked and excused by Janie’s past, Christopher and Hannah are pushed over the edge, and there is one little girl at the center of it all.
"The Perfect Child" was a decent read and was definitely intriguing. I do wish the ending was more climactic and centered more around Janie’s thoughts. In fact I think if part of the book or at least the end was told from Janie’s perspective, it would have been even more intriguing.

"When She Returned" follows a family who just received shocking news: Kate, wife and mother who disappeared over a decade ago, is back. Kate’s husband (who has since remarried) and daughter are ecstatic about her return, horrified to hear a cult was responsible for her disappearance. Trying to reconnect as a family is more difficult than not, as Kate is no longer the same woman she once was. Yet there is something more to Kate’s behavior than just fear, something suspicious that only one person in the household is catching onto, the new wife of Kate’s husband, who he and his daughter don’t want to believe. As tension rises secrets are exposed and the meaning of family is questioned.
Overall "When She Returned" was a decent book that kept you wondering what happened for the first half. Unfortunately the book becomes predictable and what was meant to be the plot twist wasn’t much of a twist.

"Sharp Objects" is a riveting story about uncovering the dark secrets of a dysfunctional family.
Camille is a struggling journalist trying to forget her dark childhood with one thing she hopes to never do again; return to her hometown. Yet when murders of young girls begin happening in her hometown, she must go back to create a story that will help her career. Upon her arrival she comes face to face with her mother and their rocky relationship. She also meets her much younger sister, who's behavior is far out of the ordinary for a young girl. As Camille tries to begin her story, she struggles with herself and the memories she must face. Soon Camille begins piecing together parts of her past and the current events, leading her to a shocking discovery.
"Sharp Objects" was a deeply engaging book that kept me on the edge of my seat! Each chapter brings you closer to what Camille thinks has happened, but the end reveals something much more shocking. This is a book I would put on my read again list!

"A Simple Favor" is a twisty novel that has some disturbing aspects... and not in the greatest of ways. It follows Stephanie and the disappearance of her best friend Emily. Stephanie attempts to solve the mystery of Emily's disappearance all while taking Emily's place which she believes her best friend would have wanted. Little does Stephanie know there's so much more to Emily's disappearance than meets the eye. As Stephanie begins to put broken pieces together, paranoia rises from both her and Emily's husband.

"A Simple Favor" had a lot of potential as a thriller novel but there were some aspects that were just too out there. Stephanie wasn't a very likeable character and her perspective of everything was twisted in a way that was just frustrating rather than suspenseful. The story also put a lot of emphasis on things that didn't seem all that relevant to the plot, and were just there to further enhance each character's odd personalities. Emily was by far my favorite character, but I wouldn't read this book again.

"The Perfect Son" is a book that is bound to keep readers on their toes, and ultimately leave them questioning everything that happened.
Told from two perspectives, "The Perfect Son" follows a mother (Erika) and her family of two children and husband. She undeniably adores her son (Liam) in particular who has few flaws. Yet, there is something about Liam that worries and even frightens Erica. This worry only increases when Liam's classmate goes missing, especially after Erica learns Liam was the last to see her and his avoidant behavior about the topic. Desperate to learn what really happened and protect her family from the growing criticism of the town, Erica keeps her son under close watch and becomes increasingly suspicious. Could her son really have done this?
This book was impossible to put down! With relatable characters and a storyline that makes you believe you know what happened (except you really don't!), Freida McFadden offers an eerie story about deciding if protecting your child is worth the risk.