Good morning, everyone! I’m so happy to be back this morning with a BOOK REVIEW! During the last few months of wedding planning, I didn’t have time to read at all… and the few times that I did try, I kept getting distracted by my thoughts. Since the wedding, though, I’ve been reading up a STORM! Two of these I would consider the best books I’ve read in 2018. Yup I said it, they’re that good! Let’s get started.
1. THE FRENCH GIRL by Lexie Elliott
By far the best book I’ve read all year! “The French Girl” pulled me in immediately and kept me turning page after page to find out what was going to happen next. It’s a suspense/thriller novel, but the author Lexie Elliott does an amazing job of building dynamic characters… I felt every single emotion along with the protagonist, Kate. Here’s the gist: the story takes place in current day London, where Kate receives a phone call from college friend Tom about the French police re-opening up a case about a missing person; an acquaintance that they met during a vacation in France – a French girl named Severine. The problem is, Kate, her boyfriend Seb, and her friends Lara, Tom, Theo and Caro were all the last people to see Severine. As the investigation begins, loyalties are tested and secrets from the past are revealed, and somehow Kate finds herself at the center of it all, and the main suspect for Severine’s murder. This novel is truly brilliant: I LOVED Kate and was able to relate to her in a lot of different ways, the ending was spectacular, AND there’s even a little romance in this book (my favorite part, actually!).
2. BRING ME BACK by B.A. Paris
This novel is tied with “The French Girl” for best book of the year – B.A. Paris has come to be one of my favorite authors and this novel did not disappoint. I read this one on our honeymoon in two days (mostly poolside, haha). British couple Finn and his girlfriend Layla are on their way home from a vacation in France when he pulls into a dimly lit area late at night to use the restroom. When he returns to the car, Layla is nowhere to be found. Fast forward 12 years later, and Finn has moved on with his life – in fact, he’s now in a relationship with Layla’s sister Ellen and they’re living happily together in a picturesque Cotswold village. Knowing how B.A. Paris’s previous books played out, I knew early on that this idyllic situation wasn’t going to last! Especially when someone contacts Finn by email, claiming to be Layla. This book is SPOOKY and also had me questioning everything – the tension began on page one and didn’t let up until the last page of the novel. Five stars from me!
3. THE DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY by Ruth Ware
I was sooo excited to read the latest novel by Ruth Ware, as I have absolutely loved her novels in the past; however, this one left me sorely disappointed. Ware writes in the style of a gothic mystery – I got the feeling that she was trying to write a modern-day “Rebecca” (one of my favorite books), but she missed the mark. The main character, Hal, is a tarot card reader who is in serious financial distress, with threatening men often showing up at her job and on her doorstep demanding for money. So it’s no surprise that when she receives a mysterious letter inviting her to Trespassen House to receive a substantial inheritance, she accepts, even though she is certain that the letter was not intended for her. She arrives at Trespassen House to find a dark and creepy mansion with an old, even creepier caretaker, the perfect setting for a gothic mystery. However, the plot really fell short for me – I kept waiting for something major to happen, but I waited until the end of the book and it never really came. I also had a problem keeping all of the characters straight, they all seemed to roll up into one and it was really hard to differentiate between who was who, which I found rather distracting. And I found whole sections of the book to be entirely unnecessary, with several passages dedicated to the tarot cards and their meanings (which I was 100% totally uninterested in reading about). I recommend passing on this one, folks… if you are really wanted to read a gothic mystery, I suggest reading one of the classics – “Rebecca” by Daphne du Maurier or “The Mysteries of Udolpho” by Ann Radcliffe.
4. THE NEW NEIGHBORS by Simon Lelic
In this one, we follow the story of Syd and Jack, a young couple buying their first house together – although the house seems perfect for them at first, the owner leaves behind all of his belongings and the descriptions we get of the house are certainly very creepy right from the get-go. In addition, we learn from the opening scene of the book that someone has died right outside of their new house. Syd and Jack take turns narrating each chapter, telling us their background before they met and their lives together now – and eventually the events leading up to and surrounding the murder. This book had a huge potential – I absolutely loved the first half of it, but it went in a different direction than I was expecting, which threw me for a loop. I also found the ending to be largely unbelievable. It was entertaining, but certainly not the best novel I’ve read lately. I encourage readers to try this one for themselves!
That’s it for me! Please please please comment below if you’ve read a good book lately so that we can all see! 🙂
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love theses suggestions!!! have to check it out.
http://www.oliviaschueller.com
I was on the fence about picking up The Death of Mrs. Westway. Thanks for the heads up! I'm currently reading The Couple Next Door which I'm sure you've probably already read. Then up next on my list is The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll. I loved her book Luckiest Girl Alive so I have high hopes for that one!
Girl all you have to do is say “this is the best book I’ve read” and it’s already in my shopping cart! These are some of my favorite posts you do!!
Girl all you have to do is say “this is the best book I’ve read” and it’s already in my shopping cart! SO excited to read these on my honeymoon! Love your recommendations always 💕
Nice post dear! 🙂
http://www.evdaily.blogspot.com
I also read “The Death of Mrs. Westway” and wS direly disappointed. Not up to parr with past books. I recommend “The Final Girls” by Riley Sager. A bit intense at times, but very, very good!
I’m glad someone else felt the same way that I did about the death of mrs. Westaway! I was so looking forward to it and was really let down. I bought bring me back already and after seeing this I’m even more excited to read the French girl! Love your book reviews!
White Lies and Friend Request are 2 good suspense novels you might enjoy!
Design by Sydnee ��
YESSSS THESE ARE MY FAVORITE POSTS! Already got the first two to read!
Great suggestions — I'm looking for a new book and will add a couple of these to my list!
I love your book review posts Cait! Thank-you for the great recommendations, I can't wait to pick a few of these up!
Happy Wednesday!
Michael
https://www.mileinmyglasses.com
Can't wait to check out those first two!! Question: have you read the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy yet? It's not a thriller like your usual picks- but some of the BEST books I've read all year!! (Think like Gossip Girl but set in Asia kind of!) The movie comes out in August and I've been telling EVERYONE to read the books before- they're sooo good!! 🙂
xoxo A
http://www.southernbelleintraining.com
I just finished The Woman in the Window by A J Finn and it was amazing! So many twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Definitely putting The French Girl on my list, and I love BA Paris! Disappointed about the Ruth Ware book, was looking forward to it.
Just put The French Girl and Bring Me Back on my request list at the library! I'm currently finishing up The Woman in the Window which you had on your last book review. So glad you do these, I always find such great recommendations!
Bummed to hear that about Ruth Ware's new book–I just started it. I feel like her books have been disappointing aside from The Woman in Cabin 10. Even In a Dark Dark Wood was kind of disappointing and unbelievable.
So bummed to hear that the new Ruth Ware didn't live up to the others! I usually love her books but from the description and your review I think I'll pass on this one.
i looooove when you do book round ups. I get my best reads here! Can't wait to read the new BA Paris, thank you!
I'll have to check out these books! Reading is my favorite!
Briana
https://beyoutifulbrunette.com/
Wowww thanks for sharing! This is really useful Juls
http://Www.theulifestyle.com
You have intrigued me so much! I’m ordering the first two ASAP. Also, random random question but the photo with this post is amazing. Where are those beautiful pastel notebooks from?!
Thank you for sharing your book finds!!
I loved Bring Me Back! I was also disappointed with Ruth Ware’s latest book. Check out Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman. I also really liked The Wife Between Us.
These all sound like such good reads!! <3
BlondieintheCity.com
I love your book reviews please keep doing them!!
Hello – always love your honest book reviews. Will definitely pick up Bring Me Back. Sounds like my kind of book. Not that I don't have at least 20 unread books right now, but hey what's one more book?
Going to have to check these books out. They sounds like super good ones.
http://www.amysfashionblog.com/blog-home/
You should write a book soon!! I'm in love with the way you write all your blog posts and I would totally read a book written by you ����
You seem to have very similar tastes in books as I do! I've added The French Girl and Bring Me Back to my "To Read" list on Goodreads!
Brittany | thechicette.com
Hi! If you're looking for a terrific read, try The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah – it was truly awesome and had me hooked from the start! Loved seeing all your insta pics btw – congratulations, newlywed!
marlathemom.blogspot.com
Caitlin, I seriously love your book reviews! I read The Last Mrs. Parrish and The Breakdown per your recommendations and loved them, so thanks!! I think you would enjoy Something in the Water- it is right up your alley!
Please share the brand/ style of your glasses!
Thanks for the recommendations!!! I just finished 'Sharp Objects' by Gillian Flynn (author of Gone Girl) it was sooo good, I couldn't put it down. When I finished it, I thought I must tell Caitlin, because I think you would really love it too!
All the Missing Girls!! I read that in the Bahamas and my fiancé got a tad annoyed towards the end because we were at the pool and I kept sneaking back to the chairs to read a few more pages haha