"The Man Next Door" by Sheila Roberts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



"The Man Next Door" by Sheila Roberts is a slow-burn novel that follows three generations of women navigating life, family dynamics, and fresh starts: a 44-year-old broke divorcée, her house-bound mother, and her adult daughter.

Zona’s been dealt a rough hand in love and money. Her first husband cheated on her, and her second destroyed their savings—including her daughter’s college fund—with gambling. She had to move back in with her mom, Louise, and is trying to make ends meet by taking a second job so she can help put her daughter through nursing school.

Her mother, Louise, hasn’t had much luck either. After breaking her leg on a senior singles cruise, she is now house-bound. She and her caretaker spend their days spying on their mysterious new neighbor. They’re influenced by the movie Rear Window and other true-crime series, so tensions and imaginations run high. Her neighbor, Martin, is a great help, but she is too shallow to really appreciate him.

Bree, Zona’s daughter, has trust issues due to her mother’s bad luck with men. She works as a waitress and has put walls around her heart. She’s afraid of being in a relationship, so she doesn’t take any risks. And she definitely doesn’t want her mother to have a relationship with the new, dangerous neighbor—or any man, for that matter. They also have a dog named Darling, who keeps running away to explore the area. Things come to a head when the woman next door disappears, and they suspect foul play.

I liked the relationship between the three women. Zona was a great mother and daughter. Louise was also great. Bree was a whiny young woman. While I liked Louise and Zona, Bree irritated me. She whined a lot, kept blaming her mother for ruining her life, acted like a brat, and even tried to dictate who her mother could date. 

Bree was too judgmental and bossy for my taste, always trying to control her mother’s life. I could understand her bitterness—she wanted to enroll in nursing school but now lacked the funds—but she took it out on the wrong person: her mother. Her mother did everything she could to fix the situation by taking on a couple of side jobs, and didn’t get the appreciation she deserved—at least not at first.

Another thing that nagged me was the dog. He kept running away, and I found it irresponsible. He ran away several times, and it became tiring after a while. Enough already! And another thing—the story moved at a slow pace. I enjoyed it, but I never felt compelled to keep reading.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. I liked the psychological games playing on our minds—not being sure what to think of the man next door—and the story arc. The writing was good, alternating between viewpoints in third-person POV and giving us a window into their feelings. However, I expected a thriller based on the description. While it bears a weak resemblance to Rear Window—a house-bound woman spying on a suspicious neighbor, a dog digging in his garden, and a cynical, middle-aged nurse—it lacks the tension of the movie.

After consideration, I rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars. While I did enjoy it, it wasn’t the suspense tale I expected. It’s more of a family drama than a thriller, so keep that in mind. There’s plenty of drama and a subtle hint of mystery, but little suspense to speak of. Still, if you adjust your expectations and approach it accordingly, you’ll likely enjoy it.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book:  "The Man Next Door" by Sheila Roberts
 

" Higher Magic" by Courtney Floyd

 

"Higher Magic" by Courtney Floyd is a fabulous dark academia novel following two magic students as they investigate the disappearances of their peers. Told in the first person from the heroine’s perspective, it’s an engaging blend of mystery, magic, and social commentary.

Dorothea Bartleby, a mage student prone to paralyzing panic attacks, was born with the ability to see beyond consensus reality. She’s never felt like she belongs at the academy. To earn her mage candidacy and keep her teaching job, she must pass a final qualifying exam toward her PhD—after already failing once. If she fails this time to prove that classic literature contains magic, she’ll be expelled and lose her position.

Urged to use Digimancy (a fusion of magic and computers), Dorothea reluctantly tries and ends up creating Anne, a talking skull meant to narrate classic stories. Instead, Anne malfunctions and starts narrating Dorothea’s inner monologue like she’s a Jane Austen heroine. With the help of a fellow candidate, James, she tries to fix Anne—only to uncover a deeper mystery. Disabled students requesting accommodations are vanishing, and the administration is looking the other way. As Dorothea investigates, she risks everything she’s worked for. Conspiracy, magic, mystery, a haunted campus, and slow-burn romance are just a few of the ingredients of this compelling book.

This is one of the most original novels I’ve read, with a complex magic system, rich world-building, relatable protagonists, and vivid side characters. I admired how Dorothea faced her fears and persevered despite unsupportive parents and a rigid academic system. I especially appreciated her determination, vulnerability, and refusal to accept injustice. As she says, “sometimes keeping your head down is the same as looking the other way.”

Anne the skull absolutely steals the show. I loved the classical references and the opening snippets in each chapter. Anne is hilarious, and I appreciated the way the author humanized her, making her more than just a magical construct. The novel explores themes like ableism in academia, disability, anxiety, found family, belonging, self-determination, self-worth, community, friendship, and the courage to stand against injustice.

The writing drew me in from the start. The magic system was initially confusing, but it all came together. There’s a helpful content note listing potential triggers (ableism, depression, death, institutional gaslighting), and I appreciated the heads-up. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to fans of magic, disability and LGBTQ+ representation, and dark academia. It’s a standalone, but I’d love to read more set in this world. Courtney Floyd truly knows how to capture the reader’s imagination. Full stars from me!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: " Higher Magic" by Courtney Floyd   
 

"Close Your Eyes and Count to 10" by Lisa Unger

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Close Your Eyes and Count to 10" by Lisa Unger is a twisty thriller inspired by the childhood game of hide-and-seek. Many of us played this game growing up, and the book’s premise draws from that. As a fan of the author, I was eager to dive into her latest work, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

The story follows a group of social media influencers who enter an extreme game of hide-and-seek on Falcao Island. The game is hosted by the adventurer and influencer Maverick Dillan, along with his partners Angeline, Hector, Alex, and Gustavo. Among the participants is Adele, a single mom in desperate need of the $1 million prize after her husband ran off with money embezzled from his company. The other contestants include Wild Cody, a survivalist who has fallen on hard times, and Malinka, the first woman to climb all seven summits, who is also the founder of the "Yes I Can" clothing line and an influencer.
 
The rules are simple: hide in the area of the abandoned house overnight, and the last one found wins the game. Despite repeated warnings from the locals about the island’s curse and worsening weather, everyone chooses to stay. But when the storm hits and secrets are revealed, the game turns deadly as their chances of survival dwindle.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it didn’t completely win me over. It was well-written, cleverly plotted, and packed with twists (some of which I managed to predict). However, the pace was very slow due to the multiple POVs, over-introspection, and extensive backstories. On one hand, these backstories enriched the narrative, but on the other, they slowed it down. The pace and action only picked up once the actual game begins.

The book shifts between characters and timelines (before and during the game). Although the cast is quite large, it’s surprisingly easy to keep track of everyone. The main characters are well-developed with interesting histories, albeit sometimes overly detailed. I found myself rooting for Adele and admired her determination and courage. Her relationship with her two kids was heartfelt, and I appreciated the risks she was willing to take for their sake. The lessons she learned during the game are ones we could all stand to embrace.

The book also delves into themes of social media, influencer culture, and the lengths people go to for fame and followers - living their lives on display, seeking approval, and blurring the lines between the real and virtual worlds. Unger offers a scathing critique of skewed morality and the impact of social media on society. Other themes, such as greed, bullying, social status, family, and ethics, are woven into the narrative as well.

While the writing is generally easy to follow, it can feel a bit erratic at times and could benefit from some smoothing out. There were also a few typos and formatting issues (like extra spaces after certain letters), so another round of editing would help. Despite these flaws, I loved the atmospheric setting, the sense of impending danger, and the inclusion of the True Crime podcast element.

Considering the pros and cons, I’m giving this book 3.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up to 4. With some refining and trimming, it could be a more engaging read. I recommend it to fans of Lisa Unger and those who enjoy slow-burn, locked-room mysteries mixed with reality TV vibes - just don’t come in with overly high expectations.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "Close Your Eyes and Count to 10" by Lisa Unger

"The Book Swap" by Tessa Bickers

 

"The Book Swap" by Tessa Bickers is an impressive debut novel following Erin and James, two book lovers stuck in a niche of their own making and connected through notes left in books.

Erin, still grieving the loss of a close friend, accidentally donates her favorite annotated book to the community library. James discovers it and, moved by her annotations, responds within the book itself. Erin is dissatisfied with her job, while James, burdened by caring for his bipolar mother, has abandoned his dream of writing. Unbeknownst to them, they share a history and harbor unresolved issues that prevent them from moving forward. As their correspondence progresses from discussing books to sharing personal revelations, they motivate each other to step outside their comfort zones.

The book is written in the first person and alternates between the two protagonists. It is wrongly marketed as a rom-com, so I expected some light reading. However, it is better classified as romance fiction or literary fiction as it explores heavy-handed themes such as grief, bipolar disorder, depression, bullying, and toxic environments. It also explores fallible human nature, healing, forgiveness, redemption, and pursuing dreams.

The book started slowly for me, but once it gained momentum, I couldn't put it down. I loved the concept of exchanging notes through books, the dynamics between the characters, and the author's thoughtful handling of mental illness. The side plots enrich the story, and I particularly enjoyed the interactions with side characters such as the protagonists' families, Erin's friend Cassy, and James' friend Joel.

Truth be told, Erin irritated me at times with her immaturity, selfishness, and poor behavior toward her friends and mother. James wasn't perfect either, being too judgmental at times, and his behavior in school was inexcusable. I don't want to say too much about it to avoid spoilers, but being bullied isn't reason enough to act as he did, though who are we to judge?? Nonetheless, I appreciated how both characters developed and grew throughout the book, and the ending moved me to tears.

While the novel references classic works like "Great Expectations," "Wuthering Heights," "Mansfield Park," and "To Kill a Mockingbird" (which I also enjoyed), it doesn't delve deeply into them—and rightly so, as it isn't the book's focus. Overall, I enjoyed the book and highly recommend it to fans of slow-paced friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, and slow-burn romance stories that aren't afraid to tackle weighty themes. It delves into the complexities of the human psyche, provokes thought, and definitely touched me deeply.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Book Swap" by Tessa Bickers

"The Family Experiment" by John Marrs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Family Experiment" by John Marrs is a phenomenal and thought-provoking speculative thriller about families, virtual reality, and ethical issues.

Set in a near-future UK plagued by economic crisis and overpopulation, many people cannot afford to start a family. Enter a company offering Virtual Children. They launch a so-called social experiment, a reality TV show called 'The Substitute', where five couples and one single parent compete for the right to be parents. They will raise a virtual child in the MetaVerse from birth to the age of eighteen over nine-month period. Through virtual reality headsets, masks, gloves, and haptic suits, the participants will experience everything a biological parent feels. The winner (voted by the public as the best parent) can either keep the virtual child or use the prize money to start a family. Meet:

- Rufus Green & Kitty Carte - entrepreneur and accounts manager.
- Woody and Tina Finn - a drone pilot and a euthanasia nurse
- Cadman NY'u (a social media influencer) & Gabriel Macmillan a gay couple
- Dimitri and Zoe Taylor-Georgiou - A mortgage advisor and a teacher.
- Hudson Wright - a single dad and a freelance software developer.
- Selena & Jaden Wilson - a data analyst and a personal trainer.

The characters in the book are an interesting mix. Almost all have secrets, most are detestable, and all are determined to win at any cost. The game begins as we follow the contestants both in the MetaVerse and the real world.

This is the first book by the author that I have read, and I absolutely loved it! The story is written from a third-person point of view, alternating between the contestants, news articles, and talkbacks. The concept is brilliant, creative, and original. And the scary part? It isn't that far-fetched from reality. The twists were shocking, and although I started to suspect where it was going toward the end, it was more than I had imagined. The book is definitely deeper than other thrillers of its kind and gave me a lot of food for thought

At first, I found it hard to keep track of the large cast of characters, but as the story unfolded, I became more familiar with them. Each character is carefully described, helping you to feel like you really know each individual. I liked the details describing their every move and their backstories. The way the scenes were described made me feel like I was actually there with them. My favorite contestants were Hudson, Selena, and Gabriel.

The novel is impressive, innovative, and exciting. It pulls you from one scene to the next without letting up. This keeps you wondering what could possibly happen next to our characters. It tackles many themes such as family, choices, moral dilemmas, fallible human nature, and AI tech and all it encompasses. As a parent, I was shocked by some of the choices and couldn't relate to some of the characters. I didn't buy their weak justification for their actions. The virtual babies (AI really taught to think, feel, and act like humans) are indeed the "ultimate Tamagotchi", and it raises interesting questions such as can one grow attached to them, can they replace real babies, and the morality beyond the advanced tech.

"The Family Experiment" is a futuristic, thought-provoking thrill ride from start to finish. The author writes well, fluidly, and in a style that keeps the reader turning the pages. All in all, a  well-written, hugely impactful book with a great story, dynamic characters, and a complex plot. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars and can't recommend it enough. If you are looking for a great read with a lot of panache, don't miss this book!

*  Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Family Experiment" by John Marrs