Pleasant Nights

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

The Larkin family is a typical three-kids, working dad, stay-at-home mom, Jane, in the 1970s. But when the youngest child, Miranda, comes home and finds her mom missing, the family is at a loss as to what could have happened. Jane’s husband is the primary suspect, but there really is no evidence.

Jane’s bones are discovered when the children are adults, which sets off a chain of events that the family was never expecting. Did their father actually murder their mother? Or are Miranda and her brother, Jeff, just turning a blind eye to who their mom was? Maybe she had secrets? Maybe she left the home willingly? And maybe their father is innocent.

This book was an excellent story of a family in turmoil. Their mother’s absence was keenly felt by Miranda and Jeff, who never fully understood who they were and received very little parental guidance, even with a remaining parent. Each chapter reveals more of the mystery, even until the last page. Really loved this one.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I read Devil is Fine last year and was blown away. After reading this, I cannot understand why John Vercher isn’t better known. This book packs a punch and will stick with me for a long time. The main character, Xavier, is an MMA fighter and suffers from CTE. The trauma he suffers in this book is tough to read.

Xavier tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and has been suspended for a year. That year is almost up, and Xavier wants to enter the ring again. However, his brain fog, memory loss, and inability to self-regulate are getting the best of him. His white father is dying, has dementia, and his racist true self is attacking Xavier. He’s estranged from his Black mother and only has his sketchy MMA trainer/manager cousin in his corner. When a new fight lands in his lap, he can’t pass up the opportunity.

However, his cousin has gotten them into hot water and asks Xavier to do the unthinkable. As the book progresses, the reader is led down an emotional journey with Xavier as he comes to terms with his current life. This book just blew me away. I have no interest in MMA fighting, but that didn’t matter. The characters were so dynamic and engaging. I loved this book.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

This standalone book by the author of the Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series follows six teenage friends trapped in an RV by a sniper. One of them has a secret. When that secret is revealed, that person will be killed, and the rest can leave.

But it turns out they all have secrets, so knowing which one is worth being killed over is a mystery. The hostages slowly reveal their issues, but also try to come up with escape plans. As those secrets are revealed, unexpected betrayals are exposed.

This book was good, but I was hoping for more. There were just too many convenient plot points rather than events unfolding in a unique or organic way. But most young adults (the target audience) will probably love this one.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I read Boys in the Valley back when the Books of Horror Facebook group voted it as the best horror book of all time. While I disagree with that sentiment, it was still a great book. So Fracassi has been on my radar for a while, so I was excited to dig into another of his.

Tyson Parks is a former horror best-selling writer, but his books haven’t sold well. His agent is frustrated with his current manuscript, but Tyson is tapped out. The writer’s block is in full force. For his birthday, his girlfriend buys him an amazing desk; however, we soon learn the desk is imbued with evil power.

The desk begins to take over Tyson’s writing. His fingers bleed, his joints ache, he forgets to eat. He loses himself while writing. But what he writes is the best thing he’s ever created. But as the desk gains more control, Tyson’s loved ones become increasingly more concerned. This book was great. Definitely creepy and shows what lengths some people will go to for success.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I loved The Writing Retreat and even gave it five stars. So when I got this one from NetGalley, I was so excited to read it. However, this book was so bad. I gave it a generous two stars, honestly.

The convoluted plot includes a stay at a mental hospital, a trip to the desert to a cult, an orgy, reincarnation, and a cave. All of these things are happening to Thea and a famous child actress, Catherine. Obsessed with Catherine’s most popular movie, Stargirl, the cult believes they are reincarnated people embodied in the film.

Do you see what I’m getting at here? Just absolute nonsense. Do not bother with this book. Such a waste of time.