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In My Dreams I Hold a Knife
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife: A Novel | Ashley Winstead
Six friends. One college reunion. One unsolved murder. Ten years after graduation, Jessica Miller has planned her triumphant return to her southern alma mater, elite Duquette University, down to the envious whispers that are sure to follow in her wake. Everyone is going to see the girl she wants them to seeconfident, beautiful, indifferentnot the girl she was when she left campus, back when Heather's murder fractured everything, including the tight bond linking the six friends she'd been closest to since freshman year. Ten years ago, everything fell apart, including the dreams she'd worked her whole life for, and her relationship with the one person she wasn't supposed to love. Going back will prove that everything she did to climb to the top was worth it. But not everyone is ready to move on. Not everyone left Duquette ten years ago, and not everyone can let Heather's murder go unsolved. Someone is determined to trap the real killer, to make the guilty pay. When the six friends are reunited, they will be forced to confront what happened that nightand the years' worth of secrets each of them would do anything to keep hidden. Told in racing dual timelines, with a dark campus setting and a darker look at friendship, love, obsession, and ambition, IN MY DREAMS I HOLD A KNIFE is an addictive, propulsive read you won't be able to put down.
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behudd
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Panpan

⭐️⭐️
I didn‘t like a second of it, but I had to finish it 😂 So it gets the 2 stars since it must have been doing something right to compel me to keep reading.
But if this hadn‘t been a book club read, I wouldn‘t have gone past the first chapter.

behudd @TheAromaofBooks this was my March #bookspin book! (edited) 2w
TheAromaofBooks Some books get a hold of you even though you actually hate it 😂 2w
dabbe #fanofthepan! 🤩🤩🤩 2w
36 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Amie
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Panpan

Terrible book about terrible people.

dabbe #fanofthepan! 🤩🤩🤩 3w
34 likes1 comment
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Decalino
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Pickpick

Jessica, returning to her alma mater for her 10 year reunion, plans to show her classmates how perfect she's become, but secrets surrounding the murder of her roommate senior year bubble to the surface, revealing that everyone has something to hide. A pick for the intricate plot and building tension, but it's exhausting reading about someone so motivated by what other people think of them that status takes priority over every other consideration

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SheilaChew
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Pickpick

And so my 2023 ends with finishing this mystery that was very twisty and full of interesting characters and dark secrets. Interesting and more than a little depressing.

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Balibee146
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A new #kindle read on Unlimited.

I need a break half way through NOS 4R2 on re reading it - finding some of it a bit much this time around weirdly.

38 likes2 stack adds
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TFrizzle89
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Pickpick

(An unreliable narrator + really annoying friends)*atmospheric setting that felt like a sepia photograph/ excellent pacing and unpredictable twists= a fun read!

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GinaKButler
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Up next on audio…🎧
My #bookspin for June. I‘ve seen some great reviews of this one on IG. I hope it lives up to the hype!

@TheAromaofBooks
#bookspinbingo

TheAromaofBooks Enjoy!!! 10mo
22 likes1 stack add1 comment
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GinaKButler
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Oh yeah…my favorite! June‘s #bookspin and #doublespin pics! I‘ve been working on Les Mis since April and have about 300ish pages left, and I‘ve been looking forward to my #bookspin (I recently saw it was added to my library‘s Hoopla audiobooks)!

Thank you for hosting, @TheAromaofBooks
My #bookspinbingo card will be posted next! 📚

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Good luck getting through the end of Les Mis!!! 10mo
22 likes1 comment
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Kgaudiuso
Pickpick

I thought this book was fun and interesting, with lots of twists and turns. I definitely did not figure out who did it until it was revealed, so good job to the author!

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CloakNQuill
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Final #november #bookspinbingo board @TheAromaofBooks

Out of the six books I read, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife was probably my favorite. Flew through it, couldn't put it down. Wasn't out of this world but a fantastic read. Overall a good month. Hopefully will keep the momentum into December.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Fantastic month!!! 1y
17 likes1 comment
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kera_11
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1 star. There‘s no knife in this book.

Sydneypaige Scissors on cover is now a give away it‘ll be sans knife lol 1y
kera_11 @Sydneypaige I mean the scissors are clearly involved but I kept waiting for the knife and it never showed, I have other problems with this book too but the lack of knife when it‘s in the title was annoying 1y
Chelsea.Poole lol. I didn‘t like it this one either. 1y
kera_11 @Chelsea.Poole it was just soooo stereotypical and I hated every character 1y
9 likes1 stack add4 comments
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DebinHawaii
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Pickpick

Finished for #NovelNovember A soft pick. I found the mystery of who killed one of a tight college clique pretty good & the dual timelines & build up of tension worked, but the fact that the main character & her group of friends were either entitled, grasping, self-absorbed or a combination & 10-years later they didn‘t get any better, made me not have much sympathy for any of them, including the murder victim.🤷🏻‍♀️ It did keep me reading though…

Andrew65 Great 👏👏👏 1y
62 likes1 comment
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CloakNQuill
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Pickpick

@TheAromaofbooks #November #bookspinbingo #11 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Mysterious, dark academia, character development intertwined with the layers of the murder night being peeled away page by page. Multiple perspectives & time lines. Not big on romance but found myself begging for this one. Especially since it didn't take over the story. Wasn't too shocking at the reveal but didn't take away from my enjoyment. Tysm @MaleficentBookDragon #allhallowsread

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 1y
32 likes1 comment
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thewallflower0707
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Panpan

This book wanted to be the next IWWV & TSH, but it‘s terrible. The writing gave me a lot of 2nd hand embarrassment. I just kept despairing that no actual human being would behave and talk this way. The characters are all unbearable and deserve every bit of misery.

Rating: 0 /5

#mystery #darkacademia #novel #review

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CloakNQuill
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Just got home from work and finally got to open this! Tysm @MaleficentBookDragon for everything & hosting another great #allhallowsreadswap. I‘m obsessed with these brain sours especially with my love of Shelley‘s Frankenstein. Intrigued to reading another Quinn novel. Can‘t wait! Happy Halloween/Samhain and reading to everyone 🧡📚 #ahrs

MaleficentBookDragon I know, I thought they were great since you like sour patch kids (me too). 1y
23 likes1 comment
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Nessavamusic
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#ScarathlonDailyPrompts Oct 29 #Knife

A great thriller with undependable narrators.

#Scarathlon2022 #TeamMonsterMash

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Gissy
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🧙🏼‍♀️Both
👻Both but more haunted house, at least during this season
🔪
Thank you @TheSpinView 🧙🏼‍♀️🍁🍂🎃🖤🧡🖤

@Moonwitch94

MoonWitch94 Thanks for playing 🎃✨📖🏚🕯 1y
27 likes1 comment
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Gissy
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Pickpick

Wow! I didn‘t expect the twist at the end.
After 10 years of graduation this group of “friends” assisted to a Duquette University reunion. In this reunion they will remember Heather who was brutally murdered. But during this reunion also secrets, betrayals will be revealed. No one is the person who they project to be. They are terrible characters. But what really happened to Heather? 😳Short, direct and intense. 4⭐️

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
55 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BookLineNSinker
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast paced, page turner that I finished within 48 hours. Jessica is going to her college reunion, 10 years have passed since her roommate was murdered in their dorm. The East House 7 will gave all there secrets exposed in this mind blowing thriller. It has something for everyone.

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MelKelsey
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Mehso-so

Book 95

I listened to In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead. When they return to their alma mater for a ten-year reunion, friends face each other and the unsolved murder of their peer, Heather. The story shifts between two timelines as the reader learns everyone has something to hide. None of the characters are likable. It was interesting but not stellar. Three stars

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KathyWheeler
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Mehso-so

I generally like “dark” academia, but I‘m ambivalent about this one. I had trouble drumming up sympathy or empathy for any of the characters. So many of them were just eaten up with envy. The story, however, was interesting enough that I didn‘t bail on it. I think it would have been better told linearly, as the author handled the time jumps in a relatively clumsy manner. #audiowalk

kelseycoleburke Agreed on every point! 2y
KathyWheeler @kelseycoleburke Thanks. I forgot to add that I also thought it was too long. There were several times when I thought, “Surely, it‘s ending now,” but I‘d check my phone and I‘d have several hours left. 2y
24 likes2 comments
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KathyWheeler
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I replaced Marion Lane and the Midnight Murders with the tagged title as my walking book because I have this one through the library and the other one from ScribD. I don‘t really like the characters that much so far because I can‘t relate to caring so much about fraternities and sororities, but I‘m willing to give it a chance. #audiowalk

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BookNightOwl
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Pickpick

This book takes place between 2 different timelines the during college and after college. When Jessica was attending college one of their group friends was brutally murdered. 10 years later and one of their friends is not done trying to figure out who did it. I felt like this was an easy read. I enjoyed the story line. I felt like some of the characters didn‘t really act like they were an adult and more like an annoying young teenager.

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Chelsea.Poole
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Mehso-so

On the fence here…I was eager for it to wrap up so I could learn the truth about who did “it”, but at the same time just wanted it to be over…? Felt too long and too twisty, if that‘s a thing. Unlikeable college friends back together at their homecoming reunion and the memories of their time in college help readers understand how a member of their circle was murdered. Who is innocent and who is to blame? The focus shifts constantly.

ShyBookOwl Hmm.. tentatively stacking this one lol 2y
Chelsea.Poole @shybookowl lots of people liked this one though so don‘t base it all on my thoughts! 😊 2y
72 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Alfoster
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Pickpick

This is a freakishly good book with snarky mean girls (and boys)! Jessica is invited to her Homecoming reunion which brings back memories of all the secrets, lies, and transgressions that still seem to “rule” their lives. Alternating in time from “then” to “now,” the novel documents everything from silly pranks to murder. Couldn‘t tear my eyes away from this one!😱

82 likes1 stack add
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MyNamesParadise
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Working Gaithersburg Book Festival, I got to attend some panels. I really enjoyed this one with Ashley Winstead and Vera Kurian, author of Never Saw Me Coming. It was great!

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ckittle019
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Pickpick

So many twists and turns with this one! It was a lot of fun and kept me guessing.

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lilpumpkin2.0
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Pickpick

March 29, 2022 Mannn... This book was giving me the chills. It was a page turner for sure. It had me on the edge of my seat. This book was by far 5/5 stars. There are a total of six friends: Jack, Frankie, Mint, Caro, Heather, and Jessica. Among them is a killer. Eric Shelby, Heather's brother, is trying to figure out who killed Heather. Hint: It was one of the six I mentioned. Okay, no more spoliers from me #readit

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lilpumpkin2.0
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March 26, 2022 I am starting this new book today. A chiller... A thriller... Bet you didn't know that I like reading these kinds of books but i do. I gave you a sneak peak of it earlier. NOW YOU KNOW

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candc320
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Mehso-so

This murder mystery ended up being just ok for me. I‘m starting to think the whole dark academia thing might not be for me. I found these characters to be so unlikable that I honestly didn‘t care who might have killed their friend in college. They were each just so narcissistic and (for most) privileged that I don‘t think THEY even cared who might have killed their friend. Still, I can‘t say that it was bad and I did enjoy the narrator. 🌟🌟🌟

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Cinfhen
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Panpan

Ugh, I really did not enjoy this book at all. The MOST ANNOYING MC/narrator I‘ve come across in a long time. Jessica Miller, has walked through life with a MASSIVE chip on her shoulder. She‘s excited to return to her 10 year college reunion to show her classmates how successful she‘s become, except Jessica is hiding MANY secrets. The premise was promising but the cast of characters were the most vapid friend group, EVER🙄 #PoP22 #CutleryInTitle

RedxoHearts I gave up on this one for the same reason 2y
Megabooks Yikes! Maybe we should just avoid books with knife in the title! 😉😂 2y
BarbaraBB @Megabooks haha! But I loved 2y
See All 8 Comments
Megabooks @BarbaraBB of course you‘d find the exception!! ❤️❤️ 2y
Cinfhen Ohhhh, I‘m curious about your book @BarbaraBB I was thinking the same thing @Megabooks 2y
Cinfhen I‘m glad to hear I wasn‘t the only one @RedxoHearts I was surprised how many 5 stars reviewed this book has on GoodReads 2y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen @Megabooks Am I do predictable 😉?! The one I tagged is by my fave Israeli author! 2y
Cinfhen Yes @BarbaraBB I‘m iffy on Grossman but that tagged one sounds good ❣️ 2y
76 likes8 comments
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Cinfhen
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If this wasn‘t for a #pop22 prompt I‘d probably would have bailed by now…it‘s SO VAMPY!!!!! The MOST self absorbed MC I‘ve come across in such a long time 🙄

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Sometimes I read outside my comfort zone and I'm pleasantly surprised. Other times I'm reminded that I don't have to read all the books. 🤣 2y
73 likes2 comments
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Nessavamusic
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Pickpick

A very entertaining, unpredictable thriller. I generally don‘t love books full of unlikeable characters and unreliable narration, but this one kept me riveted. A group of college friends return and unlock a ten year mystery. I won‘t say more, but definitely recommend! 4⭐️
#PopSugar - features a party
#roaringwolf - 2nd chance at love
#bookspinbingo - free space
#fabulousfebruary #readathon

Andrew65 Great 👏👏👏 2y
Roary47 Awesome! 😊💛 2y
53 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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JanuarieTimewalker13
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Pickpick

Quagmire of insanity but deeply engaging. Makes you want to take a psychology class. Holy cannoli, maybe commuter college was the way to go, after all....lol

46 likes1 stack add
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swishandflick
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Mehso-so

Hmm, I can't quite put my finger on why this didn't totally work for me. The concept was ok - a group of college friends reunite at Homecoming, air a lot of dirty laundry, and finally get to the bottom of who murdered one of their own. I kind of wish it were more of a police procedural rather than a "someone in this room did it" amateur sleuth style. The twists were ok (and bonus points for the title) but the execution felt a bit too cheesy ⭐️⭐️⭐️

BookDragonNotWorm I thought she did a decent job of keeping the reader guessing even though there was a line in the beginning that gave the whole thing away. There was a LOT going on in this one... 😬 2y
80 likes1 stack add1 comment
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BookLineNSinker
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Took my Tuesday trip to the local library and picked up some new selections for my reading and listening pleasure!! Library day is my favorite day of the week!

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Breanne1
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Pickpick

A good psychological thriller that kept me guessing. With the college setting and friends group it reminded me a lot of Secret History.

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veebib
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"I'd pretended I was fine, pretended I'd moved on, but the truth was, the past was still open inside of me, like a half-cracked door, because it was a raw, unhealed wound."

7 likes1 stack add
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IBooktrovert
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Pickpick

5⭐ Thriller. A group of college students form a bond in their freshman year but 1 of them is brutally murdered before graduation now at their 10 year reunion they are all confronted with their secrets that center around the murder

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Areader2
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Pickpick

Jessica is the main character in this dark novel of six friends who meet in college and goes back in forth with current and passed timelines. They all have secrets and complicated pasts and relationships, it‘s a slow build but a decent psychological thriller. #novelnovember

22 likes1 stack add
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ICantImReading
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Every time I picked this up, the rest of the world fell away and I was completely sucked in. There‘s a special magic when a psychological thriller hits all the right notes: interesting writing, layered characters, a compelling plot, sharp insights on human nature, smart twists, and an invitation to self-reflect. It‘s dark academia at its finest; an addictive and eviscerating look at ambition, privilege, social hierarchies, and pain.

38 likes4 stack adds
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eanderson
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Oooo Kindle Deal alert!!! I‘ve been eyeing this for a while. 😀

MicheleinPhilly I had never heard of this until @TrishB sent it to me. I‘m looking forward to it! 2y
Bklover Thanks for letting us know! 2y
TrishB @MicheleinPhilly phew, glad this didn‘t come up before the book arrived! It came up on one of those recommended for you things you get! I hadn‘t heard of either. 2y
See All 6 Comments
eanderson @MicheleinPhilly @TrishB I only had seen some Littens post reviews so I‘m really curious. Maybe we should try to do a read along for it sometime? 2y
MicheleinPhilly I have a terrible track record when it comes to read alongs 😬 but I‘d be willing to give it the old college try! 2y
TrishB I haven‘t actually got the book yet! But will watch for your reviews 👍🏻 2y
33 likes6 comments
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FelinesAndFelonies
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Pickpick

Another dark academia. Engaging & twisty. Lots of false leads & red herrings. I enjoyed this one quite a bit for a popular thriller. Jessica Miller returns to her alma mater a decade after graduation & a decade after the East House 7 tragically became the East House 6. What really happened that night? Ten years after Heather's death, can a homecoming reunion expose the truth? Totally recommend. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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BookDragonNotWorm
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Pickpick

Things explode at a college reunion when dark secrets & friendships unravel until the killer of a classmate is revealed. This one had a LOT going on in it. Every time there was another twist I looked to see how much was left in the book & asked myself, "How's she going to keep this going now that we know this?" But she did! SO many secrets! There's one line early on that let me know who the killer was but she made me doubt myself - a LOT!

Book_tangled I need to check this out! 2y
BookDragonNotWorm @Book_tangled It''s not the best, but ambitious with plenty of misdirection. 2y
51 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Jemgirl2014
Pickpick

This is binge worthy stuff! I think what I enjoyed most about this book is the author's use of characterization. Jessica, in particular is very interesting. I felt like I needed to crack open a DSM to truly understand her. She is beyond damaged and it's really sad. Even though I figured out the culprit before the end, I was still shocked yet resigned by the twist at the end. So excited she has an upcoming book listed on Good Reads. Can't wait! 😃

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Jemgirl2014
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7 hours read! #2021 Scarathlon #TeamSlaughter #MurderTheyReadathon 70 points @Clwojick 🎃

Clwojick I've heard great things about this one! 2y
10 likes1 comment
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Jemgirl2014
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Reading this one for a Bookstagrammer's book club that I joined. This was the October pick. I've been reading it for close to five hours straight because I can't get enough! Working on getting my points for #MurdertheyReadathon #TeamSlaughter 😄

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alecia3dixie
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Pickpick

I can't put my finger on exactly why I loved this book so much. I thought it was written very well. Usually when you read a murder mystery you get a feeling of who it was or wasn't, but I honestly didn't trust any of the characters in this book, I was keeping my eye on all of them. I didn't think it was who it turned out to be, but the extra twist at the end, I kinda rolled my eyes, I thought it was just a bit much. 4.5/5 stars

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RedxoHearts
Bailedbailed

Unfortunately had to bail on In My Dreams I Hold a Knife. It sounded interesting but I just couldn't get into it.