nzlisam's reviews
1100 reviews

You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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dark funny lighthearted sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The tables have turned – the influencer and the nobody have exchanged places! 

Nine years ago, when Meredith met Aspen, she was one of the biggest beauty influencers. The two women struck up an instant friendship and Meredith took Aspen under her wing, advising her in rebranding her online image. But in the subsequent years Aspen has surpassed Meredith’s fame and is now one of the top mommy influencers. And now Aspen is no longer speaking to her, even though Meredith reinvented her friend into who she is today. Aspen needs to be taken down a peg or two, and Meredith intends to see that her former best friend gets her comeuppance. 

You Will Never Be Me was a fun, haywire, troubling, black comedy and cautionary tale that highlighted the fakeness and obsession of social media. These immature, self-centred characters sickened me – the way they exploited and neglected their children was disgusting and sad. But as much as I pitied and found the adults in this novel pathetic, they sure were a blast to read about. Their behaviour and the lengths they were willing to go to for fame made for a twisty and twisted domestic drama thriller. What constantly ran through my mind as I was reading was that I know people whose offline life in no way resembles their picture perfect, lovey-dovey online content – I think we all do, and unfortunately things are only going to get worse. 

I made the mistake of reading the book blurb and I implore you to avoid it at all costs as it gives so much away. You Will Never Be Me was a fast-paced, drama-filled, quick read with chapters alternating between Meredith and Aspen that I recommend if you are in the mood for hateful, unsympathetic characters and social media addiction. 
Such a Good Family by Caitlin Weaver

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

What happens when in a single moment your entire life falls apart? 

This is what happens to two suburban neighbouring families in an affluent area where the wives are best friends, whose children have grown up together. When Lorrie’s eldest son Knox begins dating Eden’s only child Summer, the two mothers’ have mixed feelings about the relationship. They feel the young adults are too young to get serious, and since it’s their senior year, they’re months away from heading to two different colleges. What they would never, ever have anticipated is that the week before graduation Summer would accuse Knox of rape. Knox claims it was consensual, Summer insists it wasn’t. Now there’s a divide between Lorrie and Eden, Knox and Summer, their family and friends, and the wider community. Can forgiveness even come from such an unforgivable act? 

I award 4.5 stars to Such a Good Family. It was heartbreaking, uncomfortable, emotional, and gut-wrenching. The plot went in an unexpected direction, and I liked that it did. I also appreciated that things were never overly dramatic, outlandish, or twisty with secrets coming out of the woodwork, and that it remained realistic and grounded in reality. The main themes were trauma, sexual consent, victim-blaming, loss, family crisis and breakdown, ostracism, and suburban social cliques, but also, picking up the pieces, moving on, starting over, growing up, and coming of age. 

The multiple POV’s allow you to experience the fallout from all sides and show each character’s reactions, feelings, views, and coping mechanisms. Several chapters took place prior to the incident starting six months beforehand, but the majority of the book focused on the aftermath taking place over the span of a week. 

A discussion-invoking and thought-provoking read which would make a great book club selection. I don’t usually like to compare authors, but the tone, style, and emotional impact reminded me of Jodi Picoult, Celeste Ng, and Angie Kim. I highly recommend this debut. 
The Wedding People by Alison Espach

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad tense fast-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

5.0

Phoebe Stone is the coincidental Wedding Crasher! 

Cornwall Inn, Newport, Rhode Island – Welcome to Lila’s six-day Wedding Extravaganza! The bride has meticulously planned every detail, with no expense spared. Nothing can go wrong! 

Until the arrival of Phoebe Stone – a stranger who has somehow managed to book the best room in the place, even though the entire inn was supposed to be reserved for Lila’s Wedding People. Phoebe has hit rock bottom – unable to see a way forward. But all Lila can see is a person whose mere presence has the potential to sabotage her dream wedding. And she won’t stand for it! So, Lila inserts herself into Phoebe’s life, and from that moment on, nothing will ever be the same. 

Because, just maybe, Phoebe Stone is exactly who Lila and The Wedding People need in their lives. 

The Wedding People was the harmonious blend of serious, raw, and honest combined with playful, fun, cheeky, and hilarious. The author didn’t shy away from characters having tough conversations and her depth of understanding of human behaviour and thought processes was insightful and relatable. I could be laughing out loud one moment, and moved to tears the next. Every character was well fleshed out, and Phoebe’s deep conversations, witty banter, and chemistry with other characters, and the relationships she witnessed between others felt genuine, realistic, and entertaining. Surprisingly, given the serious subject matter this novel never felt depressing or bleak – there was always hope and light to be found. It really was a book about never giving up, even when you feel like you’ve lost everything, and that there’s joy and positivity in the smallest of things, and the most annoying of people.The wedding setting really appealed to me – all the lavish details, the activities, and outings, as did the cozy feel of an Inn setting where everyone kept running into one another, had a shared event, and couldn’t escape each other. 

When I reached 64%, I remember feeling sad that I only had 36% to go, because I loved spending time with Phoebe and this group of Wedding People. I wish I could delve more into the plot, and characters, and how special it all was, but I’d be spoiling things, so I’ll conclude by saying that I loved all the directions it went in. 

I’ve just realised that another of this author’s books, Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance, is on my list, so I’ll be reading that sooner rather than later. The Wedding People will definitely make my end of year top favourites list, no question. 
Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh

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dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I finally finished!! And it pains me to say this, but this instalment was bland as. Aside from one unexpected twist, the crime plot and the court case were dull and tedious, and the antagonists, especially Ruby the Nanny, were neither threatening nor juicy enough for my tastes. The regular characters were the highlight, and the only thing that held my interest, and kept me reading. I love this series, and will continue to read it, but Witness 8 was the only one out of the four others I’ve read that I haven’t rated 5 stars. Still have three more to read - so hopefully I have more luck with those. My opinion is very much in the minority though - most have loved Witness 8.
Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton

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dark emotional informative mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • 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

Don’t Talk to Strangers sang Rick Springfield! 

It’s Valentine’s Day 2020 in Ebbing, and Karen Simmons is looking for love on a night reserved for couples. But it’s slim pickings at her local pub that night, so a depressed and lonely Karen heads home alone. 

The next day, Karen’s body is found in Ebbing Woods – still wearing her red dress from the night before – suffocated, propped up against a tree. Why did Karen go out again after she got home? Who was she meeting? Most importantly, who killed her, and why? And Karen’s isn’t the first murder to occur in those woods… 

The second book in the series is set a year after the events of the first and can be enjoyed as a standalone. I feel horrible saying this because #1, Local Gone Missing, was one of my top reads in 2022, but unfortunately, Talking to Strangers was average by comparison. The first half moved at a snail's pace, and even though the plot did pick up after that, it wasn’t by much. I kept finding other things to occupy my time, and it's never a good sign when you’d rather do the vacuuming over reading a book. I think two POVs investigating/researching Karen’s murder was one too many, as things tended to get repetitive. Annie’s POV was the most intriguing. My second complaint is that the mystery was pretty predictable, and the epilogue came as no surprise – the myriad of subtly placed clues that the first book contained were absent from this one. I preferred the secondary crime involving online dating apps and misogynous men. That plot was tense, emotive, informative, and disturbing – several times I wanted to punch my kindle screen imagining it was these disgusting men’s faces. If I didn’t already loathe dating apps, I would now. Also, I’d never heard of cyber flashing and immediately checked my Apple AirPlay privacy settings – so thanks for the info, Fiona Barton. 

I enjoyed spending time with Elise, Kiki and company; just wish the main crime and pacing had been more to my liking. I will continue to read the series because I loved the first book, this author, and the recurring characters. 

I want to thank NetGalley UK, Random House UK Transworld Publishers, and Fiona Barton for the e-ARC. 

UK Release Date: 15 August 2024. 
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I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclay

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

A heroic act brings unwanted attention for a high school teacher! 

3.5. 

When a former student, Mark LeDrew, enters Lodge High where Richard Boyle works, wearing explosives, Richard manages to talk him down. But while retreating Mark accidentally removes his finger from the trigger, detonating the bomb, killing only himself in the blast. Richard is unwittingly a hero – praised by his family, school and community for his actions and bravery. 

But his moment in the spotlight brings enemies out of the woodwork, all of whom hold grievances against Richard. To protect his reputation, Richard attempts to resolve the matters himself. It's his first of many mistakes, because Richard has much more to lose than just his reputation. 

I Will Ruin You (love the title) was an exhilarating, fast-moving, exciting, quick read. Honestly, Linwood Barclay has always reminded me of Harlan Coben, and vice versa – not enough for me to mix up the two authors – but their writing styles and types of plots share commonalities. There were some rollercoaster chapters cliffhangers, but unfortunately the final reveal was kind of obvious. Also, there were several sub-plots that were either resolved too easily or fizzled out which made me wonder if they were only included to distract from the perpetrator and add more suspects. There sure was a lot going on in this novel. Even though drug-dealing isn’t my preferred plot in a domestic thriller there were some great twists in that storyline. 

Edited: 8 October 2024. After reading the e-book, I was fortunate enough to be approved for the audiobook. Having now sampled several chapters I have no hesitation in recommending this performance. Narrators George Newburn and Johnathan McClain elevated the source material to a whole new level. Applause!

All in all, an above average read which kept me entertained and glued to its pages. 

I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Harper Collins UK Audio, and Linwood Barclay for the e-ARC.

The audiobook is available now!
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

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adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The third rule of Camp Emerson is the most important, ‘When lost sit down and yell.’ 

Just like the battle cry of Pan: The Greek God of the Woods. 

Situated in the Adirondack Mountains is the Van Laar Preserve. Atop its ridge is the Van Laar’s colossal summer home, named Self-Reliance. Far below, is the camp they own, Camp Emerson, which is open to campers eight weeks of the year (June to August). 

July 1961: 8-year-old, Peter “Bear” Van Laar the fourth (the only child of Peter the third and his wife Alice) vanishes without a trace while hiking with his grandfather (Peter II) in the Adirondacks near the family home Self-Reliance. Following an extensive search no trace of him is ever found. 

August 1975: The girls in Balsam cabin, Camp Emerson, awaken to find 13-year-old Barbara’s bunk bed empty. Barbara’s surname is also Van Laar – she’s Bear’s younger sister, born after his disappearance, to replace the void he left. 

Is the Van Laar line cursed? Surely it can’t be a coincidence that they’re two children from the same privileged family! Or are they simply two separate unrelated tragedies? What happened to Bear, and then Barbara? 

If I could rate The God of the Woods 14 stars (for the 14 cabins of Camp Emerson) then I absolutely positivity would, but I guess 5 stars is enough to convey just how immersive, momentous, and affecting it was. A flawlessly written epic masterpiece of literary suspense fiction, and deep dive character study. There were twists that left me reeling over how shockingly clever they were, and Liz Moore’s use of misdirection and carefully concealed clues were meticulously placed. Every once and a while there is a book that comes along that is so special that I find myself taking much longer than normal to read it, inhaling every word, and taking frequent breaks to reflect on the plot, and characters, to prolong the experience, and The God of the Woods was one such example. 

The story contained many gothic elements which increased my sense of unease and claustrophobia tenfold. A prickling sensation at the back of my neck permeated the novel from the very first page. First up, was the secluded setting, far enough away from the nearest town of Shattuck to be isolating, surrounded by endless wilderness and the looming Hunt Mountain, with Lake Joan cutting them off even further. Then there were the dilapidated log cabins, once used for hunting parties, complete with unused fireplaces, whose chimneys were occasionally inhabited by bats. Not to mention the origins of Self-Reliance – there was something off-putting and out-of-place about it previously being a Chalet in Switzerland, transported by ship to New York piece-by-piece and then reassembled on the Van Laar Preserve. As expected, there were numerous campfire style legends circulating – whispered stories warning of Slitter, of Scary Mary, and Old John.  And last but not least, the plot was built around not one, but two disturbing enthralling mysteries. 

Those who know me are aware that I love a summer camp setting and this novel contained everything I wanted in one – new friendships, secretive and untrustworthy behaviour, counsellors and campers sneaking around after dark, campfires, sing-a-longs, swimming, hiking, a camper survival trip in the woods, and an end of summer dance. The vivid and intricate descriptions of the campgrounds really brought Camp Emerson to life. There was also a handy map included at the front of the book, showing the layout of the grounds and buildings. 

And I was thrilled that the author chose to set the camp story arc in the 70's – I adored the nostalgic trip, the slang, and pop culture references. The 1950’s/1960’s timelines were equally compelling. Instead of Camp Emerson, that plot focused on Self-Reliance and Peter and Alice's marriage within its walls, and of course, Bear's disappearance, and what lead up to it, and the fallout resulting from it. 

The majority of the POV’s were pre-teen/teenage girls and twenty-something women (with the exception of Alice in 1975. She was 41 by this stage), and most of them were damaged or broken (and given what they'd been dealt in life I'm not surprised), beaten down and trapped by their circumstances. Back then women were considered inferior – utterly dependent on the men in their lives to make decisions for them regarding how to look, act, and behave. And a lot of the male characters in this book took advantage of this – were dismissive, controlling and abusive. Not only that when female characters were abused by men, they saw it as their failure, and thought it was them who needed to change, who needed to be more compliant. And those who did take a stand were belittled, mocked, and shunned, by both men and women, for not conforming to the norm. 

Class, prejudice, injustice, and resentment was another prominent theme. With the Van Laar family and their rich, entitled friends on one side, and the locals from Shattuck (including camp staff, counsellors, household staff, and caretakers) on the other. Self-Reliance, sat high on the hill, on prominent display, lording it over everyone, literally and figuratively, looking down on people. Even its name, Self-Reliance, was an exclusion, a slap in the face for the townspeople, implying that the Van Laar’s had build it themselves with no assistance, when it had been the entire eligible male population of Shattuck who had done so, with no help from the Van Laar’s. And even the fact that the camp staff quarters were situated way down lake from Self-Reliance in the farthest south corner possible, placed in the half of the camp separated by a creek, spoke volumes. 

The God of the Woods was in my opinion a smash-hit and I strongly urge everyone to read it and experience the magic for themselves. My top read for 2024 so far. Actually, top read full stop. 
The Haters by Robyn Harding

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dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Stay away from The Haters, Camryn! 

It all started with an email through Camryn Lane’s author website – hateful words regarding her newly-published first novel, Burnt Orchid, and worst still, a personal attack on her character. Then, the one-star reviews start flooding in, and while taking part in an authors panel at a book festival a stranger accuses Camryn of abusing her position as a high school counsellor to gain material for Burnt Orchid. Camryn knows that every author receives negative feedback, and that you need to have a thick skin, but Camryn just wants everyone to love her book as much as she does. All she needs to do is engage with The Haters, and they will listen to, and see, her side, right? 

I kept begging Camryn to stay off the internet, and ignore The Haters, but it wouldn't have been much of a thriller if she had of listened to me, would it? The Haters was highly entertaining. To be honest, Camryn was a disaster. She was immature, paranoid, oblivious, obsessed, and self-centered, but this plot wouldn’t have worked with a more secure character. Her sarcastic sense of humor and absurd behaviour did crack me up through. My enjoyment of this novel came from waiting to see just how much deeper Cameron was going to dig the hole she was in, and eagerly awaiting to see who, and why, was behind everything. 

Camryn was the sole first-person narrator, which kept the tension high, and like Cameron I was side-eying everyone wondering if they were trustworthy. There were also excerpts from Cameron’s novel, Burnt Orchid, and I relished the parallels between her fictional work and the situation she found herself in because of The Haters. As light and fun as I found most of the novel, the ruthless attack and sabotage by on and offline trolls of Camryn’s character and safety was not funny in the slightest, neither were the personal stories other characters shared with Camryn regarding their own experiences with disparaging remarks, harassment, stalking, death threats, and verbal abuse. The Haters definitely had a serious side, and my heart broke for these authors. My heart also broke for the students Camryn counseled who were being mercilessly bullied. 

Robyn Harding has impressed me once again. Her domestic drama suspense thrillers are always so unique! 
The Collective by Alison Gaylin

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Vigilante justice is a sliding slope! 

4.5. 

It’s been five years since Camille Gardner’s 15-year-old daughter, Emily, was murdered by college freshman, Harris Blanchard. But, due to a lack of evidence he got off Scot-free. Knowing that he’s out there living a privileged life, without a care in the world, is too much for Camille to stomach, and she’ll do anything to see him rightfully punished. A business card handed to Camille by a stranger sees her logging onto the dark web – where she finds a group of mothers known as The Collective – who have all lost a child to violence. At first, it’s just a forum for Camille to vent her rage – a safe space to share her grief and loss, and fantasies of Harris’ death. Until she receives a private message from a user stating that The Collective could really make it happen – they could kill Harris for her – all Camille has to do is join them. 

The Collective was a fast-paced, anxiety-inducing, cat-and-mouse game of thrilling psychological domestic suspense with twists aplenty. Camille was in a very dark place at the beginning of the novel, utterly consumed with revenge and hatred towards her daughter’s killer. She had been let down by the legal system, and worse still her daughter had been slut-shamed, and Camille was viewed by the general public as crazy and unhinged for her continued harassment of Harris – a young man who had just won a humanitarian award. By the 80%-mark Camille’s life had spiralled so far out of control in ways she never could’ve possibly have foreseen, and those last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat, cumulating in a shocking, ironic, emotional and chilling conclusion. 

Given the heavy plot The Collective contained its fair share of dark, distressing, and bleak material, but I didn’t find anything to be overly graphic, but it was definitely heart-wrenching. It also posed many a moral dilemma and thought-provoking questions surrounding vigilantism and revenge, what is fair and just, and the far-reaching consequences of taking the law into one’s own hands. I’d even go as far as to characterise The Collective as a cautionary tale. 

I recently purchased this in an audible sale and Laurel Lefkow’s narrational style hit all the right emotional notes. With the exception of one chapter, the novel centred on Camille’s first person POV and Laurel completely nailed Camille’s state of mind thoroughout. 

This is my third read by Alison Gaylin, and I’ve rated all her books highly, and have no hesitation in recommending The Collective. I read this over a day, couldn’t put it down, had to know how far Camille and The Collective were willing to go. 
The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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? Yes

5.0

Will a second chance at living convince Delphie to live her best life? 

27-year-old Delphie is a recluse who spends the majority of her time holed-up in her flat. Even though she’s lived in London all her life she only knows three people, an elderly neighbour, and her two work colleagues. 

One evening while eating dinner (alone in her flat as per always) Delphie chokes to death. She regains consciousness in a place called Evermore, where her young, bouncy, vibrant, talkative, afterlife therapist of all things, informs her she is dead. 

While Delphie is struggling to get her head around the devastating news, she is distracted by a new arrival, a guy around her age. Delphie and the guy’s physical attraction is instantaneous, and their conversation flows naturally. Has she just met her soulmate? 

But unfortunately, the man of her dreams is merely in a state of deep unconsciousness, and a moment later he is gone, back among the living. During their brief conversation Delphie only uncovered two things about him – his first name is Jonah, and he’s also from London. 

Just when Delphie thinks all is lost, turns out her afterlife therapist is a big believer in true love, so the two strike a deal – Delphie can return to earth for ten days. If she hasn’t received a kiss from Jonah by that time she is fated to die again – permanently! A further complication, Jonah doesn’t remember meeting her in Evermore, his memory was wiped clean when he returned to earth. 

The race is on to track Jonah down in time. Is a woman with few social skills and little life experience up to the task? Delphie intends to give it all she’s got. 

Tick-tock! 

The innovative premise, inventive title, and gorgeous cover really captured my attention, well that and Goodreads friends glowing reviews. And The Love of My Afterlife not only exceeded my expectations, but also contained some surprising twists for a romantic comedy. It was sexy, sweet, utterly satisfying, hilarious, magical, gave off Cinderella vibes, and contained several of my favourite romantic tropes, which need to remain under wraps. Delphie’s quest to find Jonah really brought her out of both her shell, and her comfort zone, and everyone who helped her along the way impacted and enriched her life in ways she couldn’t possibly have imagined or predicted. As you know I prefer my rom coms with a side of real-world issues which this novel contained in spades – there were traumatic reasons why Delphie had chosen to hide away from the world. Also, I adored all the mentions of fictional romantic leads from books, TV, and movies. 

I chose to read the audiobook and Sofia Oxenham’s performance was magnificent and charming – I couldn’t have asked for a better experience – her voice for Merritt (the afterlife therapist) was a lot of fun. 

The contemporary romances released this year have consistently been of a high calibre, and for me have out shined other genres, and Kirsty Greenwood’s, The Love of My Afterlife was a further highlight and top favourite read for 2024. It will be my pleasure to explore this author’s past titles. 

UK/AUS/NZ – Out Now! 
US – 2nd July 2024.