There’s something so refreshing about Fall… maybe it’s the crisp air, the changing leaves, or the Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Or maybe it’s more opportunities to curl up by the fire (or Airstream heater!) with a good book! It’s my favorite time of the year to dig into some new reads, and here are some of the best books I’ve read so far this Fall.
Gone for Good
By Joanna Schaffhausen
It’s been twenty years since the Lovelorn Killer murdered seven women, ritually binding them and leaving them for dead before penning them gruesome love letters in the local papers. The killer disappeared without a trace or another word… that is until Grace Harper, grocery store clerk and part-time Internet sleuth, starts digging in and winds up dead. Detective Annalisa Vega knows a lot about the case already. She lost a family friend at the hands of the Lovelorn Killer in her youth, and it terrorized her. Could she now catch the killer?
Gone for Good is so damn good that I almost finished it in one sitting. And I’m stoked to see that this is the first in a series with Detective Vega. If you are a fan of thrillers, I HIGHLY recommend this novel!
Dark Roads
By Chevy Stevens
I’ve been a Chevy Steven’s fan for many years, and ALWAYS make a point to buy and read her books. The way she writes, with unexpected twists and turns, deep characters — it all sucks you right in until the very last page.
And Dark Roads is no exception!
Based in British Columbia, this novel centers on the Cold Creek Highway, a stretch of road through the rugged wilderness that has left young women missing for decades. No one has ever been brought to justice for these disappearances.
For Hailey McBride, Cold Creek is home. Her father taught her to respect nature, how to live and survive off the land, and to never travel the highway alone. But he has passed, and Hailey is now in the care of her aunt and police officer husband (who bullies her behind his badge). When Hailey goes missing, the whole town goes on edge — where did she go? And was she a victim of whomever is terrorizing girls on this remote highway?
This book is dark and unsettling, but so damn good. You’ll definitely want to pick this one up! (It’s available on Aug. 3rd!)
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Untamed
By Glennon Doyle
WOW-WOW-WOW what a book! I absolutely loved every second of this part-memoir, part-guide from Glennon Doyle. (And yes… I know that I’m super late to this party!)
This book so beautifully and heart-achingly describes life as a woman, a mother and a doer so accurately that often times I felt like I was reading my own story. This is a MUST for all my fellow ladies. And I’d go as far to say that men should also pick this up — they just might learn something!
The Wreckage of My Presence
By Casey Wilson
First of all, I LOVE Casey Wilson! I’ve been a fan since her SNL days, and an even bigger fan of Bitch Sesh, the podcast she co-hosts. So naturally, I wanted to read her book. I chose the Audible version because I knew her humor and emotions would come through in a big way.
This book is SO damn funny, but also cringeworthy (in the best way) and heart wrenching. Casey’s raw energy shines with every essay. If you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud book to make your day brighter, then pick this one up!
Invisible Girl
By Lisa Jewell
This novel is a slow-burn… one that takes its time in ramping up, but once it does, you cannot put it down. Invisible Girl is told from three different perspectives. The first is Saffyre, a young woman who is battling the demons of her past. After finishing three years in therapy, she becomes obsessed with following her therapist. But then Saffrye goes missing, gone without a trace. The second perspective is Cate, the wife of Saffyre’s therapist, who is trying to form her own theories about what happened to Saffyre. The third perspective is Owen, a self-proclaimed uncle who finds himself at the center of Saffrye’s missing person investigation. Sounds like a lot to digest? It is at first. Once you make it past the first third of the book, the pace picks up significantly. While this isn’t the best from Lisa Jewel, it’s still a compelling and twisted read.
Just One Look
By Lindsay Cameron
Wow. This book grabs your attention from the first page, and doesn’t let go until the final page. Cassie Woodson is a hot mess. She lost her legal career after a serious incident at work, and finds herself temping at a different law firm. Through her new duties, Cassie lands on an email from one of the associates, Forest. Before you know it, Cassie is beyond obsessed, going to great lengths to integrate herself into Forest’s life. This novel is as intense as Fatal Attraction, but without the bunny. If you’re a fan of Caroline Kepnes’ You, then you’ll enjoy this book!
The Turn of the Key
By Ruth Ware
This might be one of the best novels I’ve read by Ruth Ware… but then again, I feel this way every time I read one of her books!
The novel centers on Rowan Caine, a young daycare worker looking to change jobs. She discovers the perfect opportunity — a position as a live-in nanny to four children in a country house in the Scottish Highlands. With a 50k salary, it’s her dream job. Or is it? Soon enough, Rowan learns that in the past year four nannies have quit suddenly. It doesn’t help that the locals say the house is haunted. And a little girl was killed there a few decades ago.
All of these elements create a recipe for a thrilling, can’t-put-down book!
Local Woman Missing
By Mary Kubica
Mary Kubica knows exactly how to solidify her position as one of my favorite suspense writers, of ALL TIME. This twisted and dark roller coaster ride is hard to put down!
Mother Shelby Tebow goes missing, gone without a trace. Soon after, Meredith Dickey and her six-year old daughter, Delilah, disappear merely blocks away from where Shelby was last seen. After years of searching, the cases eventually go cold. Until Delilah returns 11 years later.
I highly recommend this novel. Put it at the top of your reading list!
The Chain
By Adrian McKinty
Imagine finding out that your child has been kidnapped. A parent’s worst nightmare, right? Now imagine that in order to get your kid back, you have to kidnap another innocent child and follow the instructions given to you by anonymous criminal masterminds. ? “You are not the first. And you will certainly not be the last.”
This novel follows Rachel, who’s daughter Kylie has been taken, and is now part of The Chain. This wild, unending scheme turns victims into criminals — and makes someone else very rich in the process.
This book is SO intense and diabolical! I had a really hard time putting it down as I HAD to find out how it ends!
Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Let’s Never Talk About This Again
By Sara Faith Alterman
Where does one start with this book? Up until Sara was 12, she lived a G-rated existence, thanks to her strict parents. Things seemed normal and quite frankly, a bit bland. That is until Sara discovers some campy sex books up on a top shelf — books with her Dad’s name listed as the author. Sara kept this revelation a secret until her Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s… and he decided to revive his writing career… and asks his daughter to help.
This book is so weird, dark and funny. I mean, can you imagine?? Nope. The author’s writing style is ideal for devouring a book of this nature. It feels like an old friend relegating a hilarious yet heartbreaking family tale. If you’re looking for something different, I highly recommend this memoir.
What books are on your reading list this Fall? Share yours in the comments below!
