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I loved this audiobook! It wasn‘t exactly what I was expecting - more mental illness/family drama and less straight up horror or thriller (not that it was supposed to be, it‘s just what I was expecting) - and I think that‘s what I ended up liking most. It had some real heart to it although I can‘t say I particularly liked any of the characters, which doesn‘t bother me! And there‘s just something about a British accent I love! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thought the plot was pretty solid until the big reveal. However, by that point, the main character's dramatics and reasoning felt downright stupid. Without allowing that aspect to negatively color my opinion of the book, I thought it was a fun and fast paced debut. And, despite the leading lady's crazy fueled drama, I liked the direction the story took from there on out.

3.5 stars

I'd definitely read this author again.

"It can be hard to tell where Mum's personality starts and her grief ends."

Moment of self reflection here, but damn I felt that.

They can‘t forgive me. Everyone who can forgive me is dead.

#aardvarkbookclub #jointoday

Everyone who was there, or pretends they were there, says the same thing: the tabloids got it wrong. But they didn‘t, not really.

#aardvarkbookclub #jointoday

For a book filled with horrible characters and an unreliable narrator, I just could not stop reading. I had a suspicion of one of the twists in this thriller, but there were definitely surprises.

Charlie survived Scarlet Christmas, a horrific incident at her journalism school that left 3 dead. She thinks she‘s coping, but is she? 9 years after the incident, her life begins to unravel as she addresses her trauma. So many secrets, so entertaining.

My #hyggehour found me wrapped up in my weighted blanket, on my cozy chair in my bedroom. Still burning the Yankee Candle Candy Apple candle I have been burning, so a nice apple smell filled my bedroom. For most of the time, I had Vladimir with me. I also silenced my phone and had it on the other side of the room - complete immersion into the hour!

It was a nice escape, though reading a psychological thriller is probably not the ideal escape. 😂

What if everything you know about the worst night of your life turns out not to be true? Nine years ago, with the world‘s eyes on her, Charlie Colbert fled. The press and the police called Charlie a “witness” to the nightmarish events at her elite graduate school on Christmas Eve—events known to the public as “Scarlet Christmas”—though Charlie knows she was much more than that.

#aardvarkbookclub #thriller #jointoday

A great, suspenseful crime novel. I was glued to the page and invested in the characters. I love the genre of ‘smart, put-together woman slowly unravels‘ and this was structured well, with dual timelines & fraught sessions with her therapist adding backstory as she grapples with a tragic death from her past. The depiction of wealthy New Yorkers & journalism is on point. The student friendships feel real as does Charlie‘s trauma.

#aardvarkbookclub shipping has been so fast these last couple months. Here are my March picks.

I couldn‘t put Hollander‘s debut novel down! In grad school, Charlie survived the event dubbed “Scarlet Christmas” that resulted in three deaths. Now, as the ten year anniversary approaches, a film is set to be released, promising new revelations. With holes in her memory and still dealing with the trauma, Charlie is desperate to unravel her own memories and stop the film altogether. While not unpredictable, strong characters make this shine.

Hollander's debut novel is a page-turner, skillfully combining elements of mystery, psychological suspense, and drama. The narrative unfolds through Charlie's perspective, providing insight into her struggles with PTSD, survivor's guilt, and the weight of the past. The use of flashbacks and Charlie's recollections keeps the reader engaged and invested in unraveling the truth behind the “Scarlet Christmas” tragedy.

Here‘s my review for a book I just DNF‘d.

Release date: 2/6/24

#netgalley #netgalleyarc #hailthebail

I was updating my reading progress and this pop up came up. I clicked on it but there‘s no update. I tried uninstalling the app and installing it again to see if that would help but it didn‘t. If Goodreads is going to update their app then they should just do it. Either way, this is very annoying.

I decided to start this book. This is another Netgalley ARC I have to read. It‘s interesting but I‘m not emotionally invested in the story yet.

I was approved for an audiobook ARC of this book on Netgalley. I also have the ebook ARC of this book. This book comes out in February. I‘ll read it faster since I now have the audiobook for it.

Longer review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5650870828

I think for me, I‘m a little tired of authors using mental health issues as a way of having unreliable narrators, especially on suspense/thrillers. Other than that, an enjoyable read.

I just got an email from Minotaur Books for this book I requested so now, I have another book to read on Netgalley. I forgot that I requested this book but it sounds good.

Thank you Kayla Janas of @stmartinspress

Great thriller that kept me guessing the entire way through! Charlotte and Tripp are engaged but she has some dark skeletons in her closet that will be revealed when old friend Steph (a famed anchor woman) threatens an expose. Past and present come together in this fascinating tale of jealousy, deception, and redemption!
#NetGalley