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A Very Bad Thing
by J T Ellison
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I only picked this book because it met the challenge and the description sounded promising. I was wrong. The (biggest) twist was predictable from about the 5th chapter. When I first figured it out I was not sure if the author thought their readers were morons and would not see it, or if it was meant to be the biggest red herring ever (it wasn’t). Even for a mystery/thriller there was excessive and pointless death. If I could provide better advice, it would be to skip the epilogue. It was totally unnecessary and added plot lines at the bitter end that contribute nothing to the overall story, and actively takes away from it simultaneously. That is after seeing that the book was already 100 pages too long.

Shutter
by Ramona Emerson
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I wanted to like this book. I actually got it at a previous library summer reading even as part of my parting gift. The premise was a little too into the fantasy camp for my taste. The novel is about a CSI photographer who can see ghosts, both in her family and of the victims she photographs. There is a lot of Native American lore, which is interesting, but unfortunately the reveals are anti climactic and do not live up the the "thrilling" part of being a thriller. More of a summer beach read.

The Fourth Girl
by Wendy Corsi Staub
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Caroline has been missing for over 25 years. Her three best friends know something, but what is it they know? The three remaining women have led different lives. They all keep a promise to return to their hometown 25 years later, on the anniversary of the disappearance of Caroline, a promise they made to Caroline. While they are there, Carolines high school boyfriend from all those years ago, is found dead. A complicated plot, with some great clues along the way, if you recognize them. I had some idea’s, some proven right, some proven wrong. I enjoyed this intriguing mystery.

Restore Me
by Tahereh Mafi
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This is the fourth installment in the Shatter Me series, and it marks the beginning of a new chapter in Juliette’s journey. It’s fascinating to witness how much Juliette has evolved since the first book. Her character development is one of the strongest elements of the series, and in this book, we see her step into a leadership role in a way that feels both powerful and deeply vulnerable. There were more revelations in this book, pieces that were left out in the first three books begin to unravel here, surrounding Aaron Warner and Juliette’s past. The way these storylines are expanded adds layers of depth and kept me turning the pages. We meet so many new characters and we get to explore them as people as well, which I really like. Tahereh Mafi’s writing continues to shine in this book. Her lyrical, emotional style captures the internal struggles of the characters so vividly that you can’t help but feel their pain and inner turmoil. Overall, I highly recommend this book, especially to readers who’ve been following Juliette’s story from the beginning.

Eight Perfect Murders
by Peter Swanson
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This book was really well written and was very interesting. A lot of the book was fun since it mentioned a lot of literary classics. The first 3/4 of the book are great. Once you get to the end and they start revealing the twists is when things go off the rails. I am all for twists, red herrings and suspending belief for the sake of the story, but the biggest reveal felt so arbitrary, it really felt tacked on. I wish the author worked harder on the reasoning for that instead of adding so many reveals.

It’s a Love Story
by Annabel Monaghan
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I really enjoyed this light summer read and love story like its title.

Before She Was A Finley: A Novel
by Carol Hoenig
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I really enjoyed this novel. I was inspired to read it after hearing the author speak and read excerpts from her book at EMPL. It is a fast read about why Grace left her family years ago.

The Gentleman's Guide To Vice And Virtue
by Mackenzi Lee
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Really enjoyed this one! Lots of adventure.

Folded Corners
by Jean Grainger
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A riveting historical novel/romance taking place during WWII in England and Ireland. It's the fifth in the Knocknashee series by one of my favorite authors. Grace and Richard have loved each other for four years, but it was never the right time to express their love.

Ps: I Hate You
by Lauren Connolly
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This book started out as a sweet rom-com. Maddie's brother died and she is instructed to take his ashes to different places around the country. She is to be accompanied by Dom, her brother's best friend and the guy she had a crush on when she was younger. Then things changed, and there were a bit of graphic sex scenes, which did not fit into the story.
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