Scan barcode
booksbytheglass's reviews
841 reviews
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
freida does it again!!! I’m so happy I preselected this one on BOTM before reading it because I knew my thriller plot-twist queen would never let me down 🫡
THE BOYFRIEND starts out as a typical dual timeline thriller: sydney, a single woman trying her hand at dating apps in the present day, and tom, a high schooler with a massive crush on the popular girl in school… and as the characters developed in both timelines, I was sure the rest of the story would play out very predictably…
readers: I WAS SO WRONG!! around 60-70% in the book, I started to develop another theory that I was absolutely sure was the big plot twist - and the clues freida laid out definitely solidified my theory. but chat, I was wrong again 🤡🤡🤡
I love getting fooled in a thriller, especially as I tend to read more of them than any other genre!! the domestic cat and mouse chase left my heart pounding!!
the only thing that really annoyed me was the idiocy of the MC, sydney. she actively chose not to call the police on multiple occasions and decided to keep on the dating apps when there’s a 🥣 killer around??
anyway another win by freida in the books!!
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: finger lakes cabernet franc
THE BOYFRIEND starts out as a typical dual timeline thriller: sydney, a single woman trying her hand at dating apps in the present day, and tom, a high schooler with a massive crush on the popular girl in school… and as the characters developed in both timelines, I was sure the rest of the story would play out very predictably…
readers: I WAS SO WRONG!! around 60-70% in the book, I started to develop another theory that I was absolutely sure was the big plot twist - and the clues freida laid out definitely solidified my theory. but chat, I was wrong again 🤡🤡🤡
I love getting fooled in a thriller, especially as I tend to read more of them than any other genre!! the domestic cat and mouse chase left my heart pounding!!
the only thing that really annoyed me was the idiocy of the MC, sydney. she actively chose not to call the police on multiple occasions and decided to keep on the dating apps when there’s a 🥣 killer around??
anyway another win by freida in the books!!
rating: 4.5 stars
wine pairing: finger lakes cabernet franc
The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
still sitting with my thoughts on this one as I do love paula’s writing a lot - it’s clear she does a ton of research into her subjects (this time focusing on artwork and galleries), and it was very impressive to read about!
THE BLUE HOUR focuses on becker, an art curator working with the estate of a famous artist recently passed away. while the gallery becker works for is owed the rest of the paintings and sculptures due in the will, the executor of the estate, grace, is hesitant to give up her best friend’s life’s work, and the mystery behind all of their pasts is quickly unraveled.
I tend to enjoy slow burn mysteries, but only when the pay off in the ending is worth it. the ambiguous ending, however, was not what the story needed. while it was shocking, not surprising but shocking indeed, it felt disconnected from the rest of the story… to just not get answers at the end was wildly unsatisfying 🥴
thank you to netgalley and mariner books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! this one was firmly just okay for me…
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: new zealand sauvignon blanc
THE BLUE HOUR focuses on becker, an art curator working with the estate of a famous artist recently passed away. while the gallery becker works for is owed the rest of the paintings and sculptures due in the will, the executor of the estate, grace, is hesitant to give up her best friend’s life’s work, and the mystery behind all of their pasts is quickly unraveled.
I tend to enjoy slow burn mysteries, but only when the pay off in the ending is worth it. the ambiguous ending, however, was not what the story needed. while it was shocking, not surprising but shocking indeed, it felt disconnected from the rest of the story… to just not get answers at the end was wildly unsatisfying 🥴
thank you to netgalley and mariner books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! this one was firmly just okay for me…
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: new zealand sauvignon blanc
Dangerous Play by Elise Hart Kipness
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
this was 100% a filler book, but honestly, it was a quick binge and exactly what I was looking for during a hurricane read!
continuing right after the events of LIGHTS OUT (which is helpful to read before this one but not necessary), kate green is back at her job, reporting at the olympics when she discovers her friend’s body in the locker room 👀 to which I have to say… is this reporter okay??
kate is a take-no-shit character, but she really needs to learn some boundaries. for a non-detective, she certainly knows how to solve an investigation and worm her way into getting details about a private investigation. and that’s thanks to her estranged father who’s the lead detective on the case… and I have to say, for someone who wanted nothing to do with him in the first book, she suddenly has a change of heart??
and while the overall mystery behind liam’s estrangement continues in this book, not much is answered. instead, the story focuses on the murder and how it ties into kate’s past with the victim (which personally I found a bit boring and predictable…)
it was a quick read but ultimately fell victim to the predictable mystery tropes!
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel
continuing right after the events of LIGHTS OUT (which is helpful to read before this one but not necessary), kate green is back at her job, reporting at the olympics when she discovers her friend’s body in the locker room 👀 to which I have to say… is this reporter okay??
kate is a take-no-shit character, but she really needs to learn some boundaries. for a non-detective, she certainly knows how to solve an investigation and worm her way into getting details about a private investigation. and that’s thanks to her estranged father who’s the lead detective on the case… and I have to say, for someone who wanted nothing to do with him in the first book, she suddenly has a change of heart??
and while the overall mystery behind liam’s estrangement continues in this book, not much is answered. instead, the story focuses on the murder and how it ties into kate’s past with the victim (which personally I found a bit boring and predictable…)
it was a quick read but ultimately fell victim to the predictable mystery tropes!
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Kidnapping
Lights Out by Elise Hart Kipness
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
oh I loved this one! sometimes I need a good police procedural to scratch that NCIS / CSI part of my brain - and this one was perfect!!
kate green is on forced sabbatical from her job as a reporter after an altercation with a sexist player, leading her to be in the right place at the right time when her best friend’s husband gets murdered. when the police are only focused on yvette, kate’s friend and now widow, as a suspect, kate takes the investigation into her own hands (which is very stereotypical but also fun to read)
what worked well was the cast of characters and what they individually brought to the story. spanning three generations and different facets of life, all of the side characters prove to be capable of secrets, leading the reader to believe that any of them may be capable of the worst act…
the ending and ultimate reveal were a bit predictable to me, a veteran thriller reader, but I enjoyed the process of elimination that kate went through as she put all of the pieces together. I’m so excited this series is continuing because I can totally see myself binging this again!!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: long island chardonnay
kate green is on forced sabbatical from her job as a reporter after an altercation with a sexist player, leading her to be in the right place at the right time when her best friend’s husband gets murdered. when the police are only focused on yvette, kate’s friend and now widow, as a suspect, kate takes the investigation into her own hands (which is very stereotypical but also fun to read)
what worked well was the cast of characters and what they individually brought to the story. spanning three generations and different facets of life, all of the side characters prove to be capable of secrets, leading the reader to believe that any of them may be capable of the worst act…
the ending and ultimate reveal were a bit predictable to me, a veteran thriller reader, but I enjoyed the process of elimination that kate went through as she put all of the pieces together. I’m so excited this series is continuing because I can totally see myself binging this again!!
rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: long island chardonnay
What Lies Between Us by John Marrs
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
a john marrs book that I didn’t like? who am I?
to be perfectly honest, as someone who chronically goes into reads blind and doesn’t read synopsis’, I shouldn’t be surprised that I probably wouldn’t have picked this one up if I had… death of a parent (or estrangement from parents) is one of my biggest triggers, and while I can usually push through if it’s not the main focus, this one unfortunately was…
nina and maggie (a mother / daughter duo) live in the same house, but when no one’s the wiser, nina locks her mother in the attic based on a cryptic past event she did… and that was a little too much for me 🥴
per john marrs typical style, his writing was absolutely poetic and just enough leading to send the reader careening off a cliff in the opposite direction. his twists are unmatched!!
definitely take the chance and pick this one up and make sure you actually read the synopsis and triggers for this one because… this dislike of this book is 100% a me problem y’all 🤠
rating: 2 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel
to be perfectly honest, as someone who chronically goes into reads blind and doesn’t read synopsis’, I shouldn’t be surprised that I probably wouldn’t have picked this one up if I had… death of a parent (or estrangement from parents) is one of my biggest triggers, and while I can usually push through if it’s not the main focus, this one unfortunately was…
nina and maggie (a mother / daughter duo) live in the same house, but when no one’s the wiser, nina locks her mother in the attic based on a cryptic past event she did… and that was a little too much for me 🥴
per john marrs typical style, his writing was absolutely poetic and just enough leading to send the reader careening off a cliff in the opposite direction. his twists are unmatched!!
definitely take the chance and pick this one up and make sure you actually read the synopsis and triggers for this one because… this dislike of this book is 100% a me problem y’all 🤠
rating: 2 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death of parent
The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
hmm it was enjoyable but there was something missing (reader: it was the plot 🫢)
the hawthorne brothers are back and better (??) than ever as they present the second annual grandest game, funded by avery’s multi-million dollar earnings. and while I definitely had to spark notes the last two books to remember who all of these new characters are, I had a fun time getting back into the world of the puzzles and riddles!
sadly, that was where most of the fun stopped for me. what I love most about JLB’s writing is the intermixing of fluffy riddles and puzzle solving with hard-hitting emotions and backstories that make the characters multi-faceted. that was the part that was severely lacking for me…
savannah and lyla were easily the most intriguing characters, and I still feel like the surface was barely scratched with their character development. between all of the new players, the mysteries and cryptic one-liners never really resolved and instead worked to set up the next installment of this series
I just wished the story held more on its own rather than relying on future plot resolutions. because at the end of the day, nothing really happened? the biggest reveal in lyla’s story was a plot point that was already revealed in THE BROTHERS HAWTHORNE - so I’m just over here 🤔🤔🤔
at the end of the day, will I continue reading this series and anything JLB writes? yes. was this book still fun to read? yes. are her new characters just as strong as the original hawthorne brothers? definitely not.
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: new zealand cabernet riesling
the hawthorne brothers are back and better (??) than ever as they present the second annual grandest game, funded by avery’s multi-million dollar earnings. and while I definitely had to spark notes the last two books to remember who all of these new characters are, I had a fun time getting back into the world of the puzzles and riddles!
sadly, that was where most of the fun stopped for me. what I love most about JLB’s writing is the intermixing of fluffy riddles and puzzle solving with hard-hitting emotions and backstories that make the characters multi-faceted. that was the part that was severely lacking for me…
savannah and lyla were easily the most intriguing characters, and I still feel like the surface was barely scratched with their character development. between all of the new players, the mysteries and cryptic one-liners never really resolved and instead worked to set up the next installment of this series
I just wished the story held more on its own rather than relying on future plot resolutions. because at the end of the day, nothing really happened? the biggest reveal in lyla’s story was a plot point that was already revealed in THE BROTHERS HAWTHORNE - so I’m just over here 🤔🤔🤔
at the end of the day, will I continue reading this series and anything JLB writes? yes. was this book still fun to read? yes. are her new characters just as strong as the original hawthorne brothers? definitely not.
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: new zealand cabernet riesling
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I spent two weeks reading the first ten chapters, and then binged the rest in one day 🤯 what started off as a slow burn mystery quickly turned into an enthralling family drama (aka among my fave tropes!!)
liz moore’s writing is so enchanting and haunting, especially on the subject of two disappearances in the same family, fifteen years apart from one another. the setting of a summer camp was eerily spooky, perfect for this time of year, and gave all of the nostalgia for youth and nativity.
what didn’t work for me was the ultimate conclusion. for a multi-layered, dual timeline, family crossed mystery, the way that it wrapped up was very anticlimactic. I wanted a larger reveal that had complications throughout the entire family and surroundings, rather than a coverup that was much smaller than anticipated. and while I loved the conversation of gender roles during the time period of the 1970s, it didn’t contribute much to the mystery at hand.
I feel that this story falls victim once again to the mismarketing of genres (this is a publisher not an author critique!)… this is most certainly NOT a thriller and instead leans more into the family drama aspects rather than a mystery at all…
for a 500 page book though, it certainly read very quickly with short chapters (which is my weakness)! loved buddy reading this one with my pal ashley!
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: sonoma coast chardonnay
liz moore’s writing is so enchanting and haunting, especially on the subject of two disappearances in the same family, fifteen years apart from one another. the setting of a summer camp was eerily spooky, perfect for this time of year, and gave all of the nostalgia for youth and nativity.
what didn’t work for me was the ultimate conclusion. for a multi-layered, dual timeline, family crossed mystery, the way that it wrapped up was very anticlimactic. I wanted a larger reveal that had complications throughout the entire family and surroundings, rather than a coverup that was much smaller than anticipated. and while I loved the conversation of gender roles during the time period of the 1970s, it didn’t contribute much to the mystery at hand.
I feel that this story falls victim once again to the mismarketing of genres (this is a publisher not an author critique!)… this is most certainly NOT a thriller and instead leans more into the family drama aspects rather than a mystery at all…
for a 500 page book though, it certainly read very quickly with short chapters (which is my weakness)! loved buddy reading this one with my pal ashley!
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: sonoma coast chardonnay
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death of parent
The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
my expectations for this one were a little too high, based on the success and fun of the first two molly the maid novels! I was picturing a fun lil holiday mystery, and instead, it was more of a retelling of the gift of the magi 🧐🧐
there was very little mystery as this novella focused completely on juan and molly’s relationship over the past few christmases, especially after losing her grandmother. it was more of a deep dive into their daily life and relationship, which felt a little unnecessary for me. I definitely feel that this book would have been a bit more successful as a mystery rather than a filler.
however, the ending with molly and her friends was adorable, I have to admit. even though it was extremely obvious and irritable that molly couldn’t see it and was doubting herself…
thank you to netgalley and ballantine books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! this was a cute one but overall without much of a point…
rating: 2.5 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel
there was very little mystery as this novella focused completely on juan and molly’s relationship over the past few christmases, especially after losing her grandmother. it was more of a deep dive into their daily life and relationship, which felt a little unnecessary for me. I definitely feel that this book would have been a bit more successful as a mystery rather than a filler.
however, the ending with molly and her friends was adorable, I have to admit. even though it was extremely obvious and irritable that molly couldn’t see it and was doubting herself…
thank you to netgalley and ballantine books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! this was a cute one but overall without much of a point…
rating: 2.5 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I immediately dropped all of my current reads to pick this one up when I received an ARC of it, because ashley winstead can do no wrong 👏🏼 I’m here for every thriller and every romance she writes!! heck, I’d read her laundry list!!
ashley proves yet again why she’s the queen of spooky thrillers with this installment of a campus killer told through the eyes of amateur sleuths!! her writing is so captivating and intriguing that you won’t want to put the book down until it’s over 😱 and it won’t be over until the very last page!!!
after the sudden passing of her father, jane decides to throw herself into the true crime community to help solve crimes and get answers for the world that seems unanswerable in times of grief. while I didn’t take as drastic of a recluse as jane did after her father’s death, her thoughts and depiction of grief was like opening a door to the inside of my brain 🫶🏼 grief is a fickle beast
what caught my attention from the first description of the campus murders was the similarity to the idaho killing that happened last year. the details were eerily similar, down to the roommates and location, and although the resolution was completely different, it did feel a bit copycat at times. that being said, it didn’t change my rating or perspective at all because there was so much else going on at the same time!
while I did guess the overall killer by the end, it was more of a “ha I knew it!!” satisfaction rather than it being obvious. ashley’s writing once again proves superior as she twists and turns the story over and over again until the very end!
a huge thank you to ashley herself and sourcebooks for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! I can’t wait to promote the heck out of this one next year!
rating: 5 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel
ashley proves yet again why she’s the queen of spooky thrillers with this installment of a campus killer told through the eyes of amateur sleuths!! her writing is so captivating and intriguing that you won’t want to put the book down until it’s over 😱 and it won’t be over until the very last page!!!
after the sudden passing of her father, jane decides to throw herself into the true crime community to help solve crimes and get answers for the world that seems unanswerable in times of grief. while I didn’t take as drastic of a recluse as jane did after her father’s death, her thoughts and depiction of grief was like opening a door to the inside of my brain 🫶🏼 grief is a fickle beast
what caught my attention from the first description of the campus murders was the similarity to the idaho killing that happened last year. the details were eerily similar, down to the roommates and location, and although the resolution was completely different, it did feel a bit copycat at times. that being said, it didn’t change my rating or perspective at all because there was so much else going on at the same time!
while I did guess the overall killer by the end, it was more of a “ha I knew it!!” satisfaction rather than it being obvious. ashley’s writing once again proves superior as she twists and turns the story over and over again until the very end!
a huge thank you to ashley herself and sourcebooks for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! I can’t wait to promote the heck out of this one next year!
rating: 5 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Murder
Moderate: Animal death and Stalking
How to Hide in Plain Sight by Emma Noyes
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
first and foremost, I absolutely love this author’s storytelling!! her writing is so raw and open, and I about cried after reading her author’s note and knowing the baseline of this story is based on personal experience 🥺🫶🏼
the story is very character forward and surrounding eliot, the youngest in a very large family suffering from PTSD of her brother’s death when they were young as well as chronic OCD. the stereotypical OCD that you see in movies and books is not what’s featured here, and I applaud every sentence written, allowing the readers the privilege of being in eliot’s head ❤️
and as sad, beautiful, and tragic as eliot’s story was, I wished there was more to hold the entire plot together. I wanted more from eliot’s family, I wanted chapters from manuel’s POV, I wanted a deep insight into how the family felt when eliot left them all high and dry… and as much as I loved eliot alone, there needed to be more than just her telling the story…
friends to lovers normally isn’t my favorite, but I absolutely loved how manuel and eliot’s dynamic was perfect for each other 🩷 again, I just wanted more from manuel’s side because from eliot’s POV only, it was hard to tell what occasions were warped due to her own trauma and OCD.
a huge thank you to berkley and berkley romance for the advanced copy of this one in exchange for an honest review!! I’m glad I took my time with this one!
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: niagara-on-the-lake sparkling vidal
the story is very character forward and surrounding eliot, the youngest in a very large family suffering from PTSD of her brother’s death when they were young as well as chronic OCD. the stereotypical OCD that you see in movies and books is not what’s featured here, and I applaud every sentence written, allowing the readers the privilege of being in eliot’s head ❤️
and as sad, beautiful, and tragic as eliot’s story was, I wished there was more to hold the entire plot together. I wanted more from eliot’s family, I wanted chapters from manuel’s POV, I wanted a deep insight into how the family felt when eliot left them all high and dry… and as much as I loved eliot alone, there needed to be more than just her telling the story…
friends to lovers normally isn’t my favorite, but I absolutely loved how manuel and eliot’s dynamic was perfect for each other 🩷 again, I just wanted more from manuel’s side because from eliot’s POV only, it was hard to tell what occasions were warped due to her own trauma and OCD.
a huge thank you to berkley and berkley romance for the advanced copy of this one in exchange for an honest review!! I’m glad I took my time with this one!
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: niagara-on-the-lake sparkling vidal
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Mental illness