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This is our book club pick for December…a mystery around a neighborhood book club!

#bookspinbingo

This was really well done! Sort of like Liane Moriarty in that it‘s neighbors who are all in each others‘ business and connected in ways known and hidden. Lots of misdirection and twists. I would recommend it!

It had been electric to feel such purpose,
to have that
fiction of control
over her life.

This is the team book for spooktober over on instagram for Team Ghost. I had not heard of this one and I‘m so glad my local library had it in the shelf. Great twists.
#scarathlon #BOOklovers @Bookwormjillk

Reading while waiting for the tires to be rotated.
This line made me close the book and take a moment to appreciate it before reading on:
Art period was like Lord of the Flies at peak pig-killing hour.

This is a solid 3.5-star read for me. It was...good. An absorbing, enjoyable insulated neighborhood domestic thriller. It kept me turning the pages and wanting to know what was going to happen. I did not like the first-person flashbacks; I thought that was messy and unnecessary. I would read more by this author.

I enjoyed this - it opens with unknown narrator discussing a “death“ in the neighborhood - then goes back 15 years/1 year - to events that led to the current death. Neighborhood book club, women have secrets, tense with a touch of humor, no cattiness - lots of twists- this was audiobook and I enjoyed the narration.
#ValentinesDayReadathon was a success for me thanks for hosting @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
Make a great day everyone 💕

I love a good neighborhood shenanigans book and this one, bookclub included, is up there with my all time faves! There‘s a 15-year mystery the reader knows will unfold at story‘s end and I was sure I figured it out (I didn‘t). There was also all sorts of current mysteries and secrets happening, and it all comes together in such a well-played conclusion.

I enjoyed this fast and fun neighborhood gossip read! I loved the book club at the heart of this (but I wish the books were all real!), and while the characters certainly made questionable choices, I do think it could lead to lively discussions about morality. Entertaining and engaging with secrets, lies and a neighborhood vandal, I am glad to have finally gotten this one off my TBR!

Yesss! This “Desperate Housewives“-like book dives into the lives of everyone in the neighborhood as specific patrons are targeted by vandalism. As the story develops we learn that everyone has secrets. What are the lengths people will go keep them hidden?

I loved the character development, drama, whitty humor, and thrill of watching the story unfold. I wouldn't consider this a mystery or thriller, but more of a dramatic TV series.

I really did like this book. I liked the individual stories with all the different characters. The book club was the best part of the book. It really makes the reader feel like you wish you could be part of the book club or part of their group. This book deals with a murder, lies and half truths. It was a fun read.

2/5⭐
LIKES
?I managed to finish
DISLIKES
?Sad, judgemental, worried moms in a book club that just compare themselves and their children to others. ? The amount of times I whispered to myself "shut up" lol
?This is not a mystery
?The vandal storyline was weak at best
?Characters are just annoying

Seriously don't waste your time with this one. I wish I had not..

Currently reading 📚 for book club 📚 plus unrelated pic of my husband on our Oregon trip a few weeks ago. I‘m still thinking about those trees and beaches… 🌲 🌊 Side note: I‘m reading a lot this year and started buying too many books, but haven‘t been writing reviews (or posting here). Anyone else feel like their reading is still “off”? 😳 Each pandemic year has brought such strange reading changes for me.

This one was definitely in between for me where I really liked it, but didn‘t love certain parts. I didn‘t actually love the characters and this did remind me of Big Little Lies a little bit. The mystery drug on a bit but I loved the book club parts of the group and the relationships between the women and their kids. I thought it came together well, but was a bit slow at some parts.

I enjoyed the idea for this book. I also liked the snark in some of the dialogue. What bothered me was the poor writing skills. The use of metaphors was over the top, to the point that I found it distracting.
Murder mystery in an upper class book club. Uppity women with secrets. Kids with issues. And everyone drinks everyday.
It was okay. Quick read. Nothing really memorable. #BOTMbacklist. ⭐⭐⭐

Life is too short to waste my time with a boring book. I just couldn‘t get into this one. I bailed after 100 pages.

This was...fine. It didn't capture me like I thought it would but I didn't dislike it; I just felt like it didn't quite live up to expectations.

Oh how I needed this book right now. Fast paced and interesting, perfect for fans of Big Little Lies (and for some reason my pictures aren‘t posting....)

I just can‘t stick with this one. I was 120 pages in and so uninterested I didn‘t even know who the characters were still. Not one for me. 😐

Started this one this morning.. 🤔

Just eh. It held my attention but the red herring didnt throw me off enough The writing was great, making it a quick read. Dont let the ladies of the Cottonwood Estates Book Club throw you off.

Lunch time. Pretty sure im finishing this one today.

My work views today

This is a juicy neighborhood novel in the vein of Big Little Lies. Jenna is concerned her son Abe is a sociopath. Lena is a sad widow in the neighborhood‘s biggest house, and Annie strikes up an unusual friendship with her. Plus Annie‘s 14 year old daughter was caught drunk. And there‘s a vandal loose. Who is it?

While not as propulsive or well written as BLL, this story still moves well among the storylines making for an enjoyable read.

Book 192

Up next....a small Botm backlog

🤩🤩🤩🤩/5 stars. I recommend this book it was good not fantastic but a good quick read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Although this book doesn‘t really offer anything new to the genre, I can‘t deny that it was fun and juicy! I loved the book club theme and inhaled the pages toward the end. The reveals didn‘t pack the punch I had anticipated, though, and I had hoped for more emotional connection and substance overall. #BOTM

Woke up early to finish The Neighbor's Secret while watching the sun rise. In terms of mysteries, I enjoyed the quick pace and realistic ending. At the outset, you know someone has died but you don't know when or who it was. There was a "twist" near the end that I didn't find too surprising, but overall this was a cohesive quick read. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and a good amount of melodrama. 3.5 ⭐s

Saturday, Socks and a Stack of great BOTM books!! What could be better?!🌞📚😍
Just finished The Neighbor's Secret this morning and loved it! #botm

25 weeks pregnant with Baby #2 - decided to treat myself to a massage this weekend. Of course, I made sure to arrive extra early so I had plenty of reading time.

*Side note: I had never heard of this book until I saw it as a BOTM selection. About 60 pages in and I'm intrigued!

This week in new books: Only two! Just my #BOTM #TBR #bookmailisthebestmail

If you like Big Little Lies you will like this book. So many secrets in all these book club ladies‘ families.

Damn. Hell must have frozen over, this is my third #BOTM skip in a row! I mostly just wanted the Rooney add-on but none of the main picks were tempting enough to pull the trigger. I *almost* caved and went with the tagged book, but then noticed the "mama drama" tag they had given it and promptly changed my mind. Here's hoping I'm excited for October!

I'm so excited about these books! Great job, BOTM!

Here is a credit for anybody that wants a free month of BOTM:

https://www.mybotm.com/4s93e9a2567?show_box=true

Yayy, what a fun way to start out my birthday week!! “The Neighbor‘s Secret” wasn‘t on my radar, but scandal at a neighborhood book club? I‘m in! I‘ve had my eye on “We Were Never Here” for my free birthday add-on since last month! I‘m also excited about Sally Rooney‘s newest, but I chose that for my September #AuthenticBooks box. Thanks #BOTM!! 🥳 📚💜

Ugh, what a letdown...this is the first time in a while I had no interest in any of the #botm picks. With all the huge releases coming out this month (the new Colson Whitehead, Anthony Doerr, and Liane Moriarty) I was really surprised that I didn't recognize any of these titles. I'll wait for some reviews and see what others think of these...