Welcome to Litsy!

This one was gothic and twisty, but a little slow. Like a good sorbet. A palate cleanser between better books.

Oh, I had a fun time reading the last one of Sager‘s on my TBR! Set in 1983, disgraced caregiver, Kit takes on the only job left to her— caring for the paralyzed and infamous Lenora Hope in the crumbling manor where in 1929, her parents and sister were presumably murdered by Lenora herself, though no arrests were ever made. Fast-paced and nostalgic, I enjoyed the twists (some more expected than others) and I can‘t wait for his next book!

The twists!!

March I‘m going to put Gone too Far, but all my March reads did not compare to the tagged. 🥰💛

A plot that started out promising and intriguing soon started crumbling much like the cliff and house at Hope's End. The term “jump the shark“ comes to mind.
The narration of some of the voices was beyond grating so really i finished this just for completionist reasons.
So, have a gratuitous photo of this little dude celebrating his first birthday this past weekend (as well as Easter); one down and a ton more to go!

A solid quick mystery read. Seemed to drag in many places, most of the twists were predictable but aligned well. Not sure I‘d recommend to anyone unless they are a fan of the author or needed a simple beach read.

I‘m not sure if I can really recommend Sager‘s latest. The first 2/3 of the book is slow, laying almost more of a back story than needed. The last third of the book has so many plot twists, it‘s almost hard to keep track. In short, the pacing is really weird. The plot: fleeing a personal scandal Kit McDeere becomes caretaker for Lenora Hope accused, but never convicted of her family‘s murder. Now she wants to tell her story.

Not really sure where to start where my review of this one. There are several elements of this that I loved: a story within, there was one particular twist that is one of my favorite twists in all of Sager's books & the main character. Then there were several elements that I disliked: a twist towards the end that I frankly hated, the main character while often endearing was also frequently annoying. In terms of ranking: second from last place.

Holy twists Batman! The book read like a whodunit until the last 50 pages or so. Then it was twist after twist and reveal after reveal. I very much enjoyed it, it was a fun quick read.

I found it mediocre. There were SO many distractions that I genuinely did not enjoy it. Most of the book was speculation, and the true events of the murders weren‘t revealed until the very end. I felt like I read two books. The first being the author‘s attempt to fool the reader (it was overwhelming) the second was the novel I actually wanted to read. The book got good reviews, so I‘ll chalk up my dislike to not connecting with the writing style.

I did it again, read a thriller when it‘s not my go-to genre. It was this month‘s book club pic. It was well written, and it wasn‘t a bad book, but it just didn‘t draw me in. If you like thrillers, you would probably love this one. I did like the setting. Nothing better than an old house on a cliff next to the ocean. Not much else to say about this one. It just wasn‘t for me.

I rooted for Kit and loved her relationship with her patient. Otherwise characters were mysterious enough to keep me guessing who couldn't be trusted.

I loved the atmosphere, I thought several times that I wouldn't like to live there where Kit did xD

At some point I started to feel frustrated because things were revealed slowly. This was a bit wild, there were pretty unbelievable twists. Some I guessed, some not.

Overall I enjoyed!

5✨ I was completely absorbed in this book. Multiple murders presumably made by an elderly client of a care giver. Unfortunately, Kit has to work this job because she messed up last time. She‘s scared, but learns to help her client under Ms Baker‘s directions since the elderly woman that needs help cannot speak or move. Mystery shrouds this whole storm. I figured out some of them, but not everything. I would definitely recommend. #Snowedin

I knew it! 🤩🤯

I read this one in two days. Definitely has a twist at every corner and just when you think youve figured it out another bombshell is dropped. So much happens in this one it takes your mind a minute to wrap your head around everything. Definitely a good one!

“You‘re never alone when there‘s a book nearby”

I don‘t know. I‘m so torn with this one. First of all, I love Riley Sager. This was long, a little out there, and I found myself rolling my eyes a lot. Did I love it, no. Did I like it, yes. I definitely needed to finish it, so there‘s something to say about that.

Very slow in the beginning but totally worth the read! This book has so many twists and turns. 🏠

⭐️⭐️⭐️ this was an entertaining, though pretty unbelievable, story. But that ending…. So many eye rolls, went from a 4 star to 3 for me 🙄🙄🙄 #fluff

I was so nervous going into this one because the reviews were so split. People either loved it or hated it. I thought it was fantastic and just really fun to read. I loved the atmosphere, so perfect for October reading. #12Booksof2023

4.5🌟

I gobbled this book right up! It was entertaining until the last page and kept the mystery alive. My complaints are that I didn‘t get attached to any of the characters and the end did need a good amount of explanation to bring it full circle. This book is very similar to Colleen Hoover‘s Verity. A spooky, thrilling, fun ride !

“Even a prison becomes comforting if it‘s the only thing you know.”

Whenever a book/author is popular, I go into it with much trepidation. This time, I was not disappointed. I never had firm footing (indeed no one in the novel did either) and I was delightfully surprised by the twists and turns. I kept thinking I had it down, then the floor would drop out from under me. Really well done.

I don‘t know why, but I had low expectations going into this one. I think because the last Gothic novel I read was more of a ‘funny tale‘ on a gothic novel than actually one. This story was great though, good plot twists, at times I thought I had it figured out it then I didn‘t. The ‘coming apart at the seams‘ metaphor being brought to life in the physicality of the mansion. Murder, love, deceit, revenge, and so much more.

A good thriller but the twists were kind of odd, but enjoyable.

Read for reading challenges

4/5

My first Riley Sager novel. So many twists! I thought I had figured some of it out early on but things kept changing until the very end!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#botm #mystery #thriller #suspense

Here's how my #October2023 ended for #BookSpinBingo! I'm still light on my reading due to student teaching, but I only have 4 weeks left! #careerchange #lifegoals #almosthere #bookworminmetamorphisis

I was nervous about reading a Sager book so soon. But I‘m glad I did. I didn‘t like it as much as the last one but still really good. Liked how it went back and forth and the little hints that were given. I liked how it was wrapped up.

A gothic thriller that I enjoyed. A bit slow in the middle but it all moves to a surprising and great ending. I was so satisfied when the book wrapped everything up after some twists and turns. An enjoyable read.

Mixed feelings. So this started off very promising. But at some point it went off the rails of utter ridiculousness. I did hang with it and finished. I was mostly entertained. But if you are the type who can‘t stomach over-the-top, unbelievable plot twists and get frustrated with easy tied up endings, you will be rolling your eyes aggressively. If you don‘t care, you‘ll probably love it.

This is now my new favorite Sager book!

#TeamCreepinItReal #scarathlon 771 pts
#trickortreatathon #31by31 #bookspinbingo #falling4books #readysetgoreadathon #RushAThon #spookoween #promptmaze #swiftieerasghostreadingchallenge #outstandingoctober #onemorechapter

Oh a Lizzie Borden yarn! There were so many twists in this one. It was just fun to read. It took me a minute to decide I liked the MC, Kit, but once we connected, the ride was a blast. And, the 1983 playlist was a blast from the past, too.

4.5 stars because I absolutely devoured this, also in two sittings, and thought it was going to be a 5 star read ... but there's one thing that I can't get past 😂. If you're in the mood to suspend your disbelief, this is a real creepy gothic treat 👀

Twisted.

I have had the busiest week. I need to be cleaning my home, but all I want to do is read!! #31by31 #OutstandingOctober #Scarathlon #TeamCryptKeepers @LiseWorks @Andrew65

I was nervous going into this because reviews are all over the place, but I truly loved every minute of reading it. It‘s a slow-burn until the fast-paced ending with rapid-fire twists that require a suspension of disbelief. The tilted, crumbling mansion high on the edge of the cliff made for a more gothic, atmospheric feel. And it‘s easy to see that Sager drew inspiration from both Lizzie Borden and de Maurier‘s Rebecca. So much fun, I loved it!

If you read this one watch your step, there is plot holes everywhere 🤭

This one goes off the rails and just becomes nonsensical. Entertaining though, I guess.

Gothic & twisty with nods to Shirley Jackson & Daphne du Maurier, this thriller is an enjoyable ride. The crumbling mansion is a character in itself, which not every reader loves, but I do. Final twist hits the mark. Good narration. #Gothic #spooky #thriller #Scarathlon #TeamWhoYaGonnaCall #audiobook #20points

Very excited to finally be reading this one!! I‘m listening on my commute today but have a print copy for when I‘m at home in my favorite chair. I‘ve noticed mixed reviews but I love Riley Sager‘s work so I‘m crossing my fingers this will be amazing. The audio is great.

A young caregiver, trying to get back on her feet after being accused of a crime, comes to the crumbling mansion to take care of an invalid woman, blamed for a Lizzie Borden-like massacre of her entire family, years ago on the eve of the stock market crash in 1929. There‘s definitely a gothic feel to this tale. I enjoyed this book.The twists at the end are a bit ludicrous and the family members are outright horrible, but it‘s an entertaining read.

Happy #Scarathlon, everyone! These are 3 of my most anticipated reads, plus my first pumpkin spice coffee of the season and a pumpkin spice Oreo. Let the fun begin! 🎃

#TeamCreepinItReal

I have mixed feelings about this one. It started off so well and I was really enjoying it! Then it kind of lost me. The ending also wasn‘t my favorite. It was…fine? But it was almost too twisty for me and by that point I wasn‘t invested in the story anymore. Some character decisions confused me and I wish there was more resolution with the whole Detective Vick thing. Overall it was entertaining and I know a lot of people will really enjoy this.

I'm getting ready for October's #bookspinsbingo! Since I finished by BOTM challenge for the year, I'm focusing on non-BOTM books on my bookshelf until 2024!

I've been putting off starting this book, but tonight looks like the night to start.
When I first heard of it I thought it sounded so good and couldn't wait to get my greedy lil hands on it, but it's been hyped up so much I'm worried about being disappointed, especially since I normally end up disliking super popular books. Oh well, here's to hoping 🤞

I was beginning to think that Riley Sager was a one hit wonder with me! I enjoyed this a lot and I‘m glad I kept reading his books even though most are duds.

While the very, very end mollified some of what I was feeling while reading this book, I can't ignore how silly and needlessly dark it was. The plot holes, the unlikelihoods, the truly nasty things family members did, all for the gotcha? I was on the fence about gothic horror as a genre, and this is further proof that sad+creepy is not my vibe, but honestly this is a thriller, full of the usual crappy people doing crappy things. No thank you.

It‘s 1983, and after being accused of her own unthinkable crime, Kit is hired to be a caregiver for an incapacitated woman who is believed to have murder her own family more than 50 years earlier. The pacing is a bit a off, but there are some really great twists and turns.