Mystery & Thriller | 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards

Hi Friends,
It’s almost time for the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards, so I thought it would be fun to share my predictions for certain categories. I might have more predictions in some categories than others, depending on how often I read that genre. In this post, I’ll discuss the mystery and thriller category and talk about ten books I think will be nominated. Please keep in mind that a book needs a Goodreads rating of at least 3.5 to be nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards.


First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
This 2024 mystery thriller release surprised everyone. While it leans more toward mystery and suspense, it still fits within the mystery and thriller category according to Goodreads. With a solid rating and overwhelmingly positive reviews, I expect it to receive a nomination.
Related Post: First Lie Wins | Book Review


The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
Lucy Foley has not only been nominated before but also won in 2020 with her book ‘The Guest List’. However, this book hasn’t generated much discussion, and I haven’t heard many opinions about it. Still, considering she’s a past winner, I don’t see her getting left out as a nominee. However, I don’t think it will win or make it into the top 10.
Related Post: The Guest List | Book Review


Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
I’ll be shocked if Riley Sager’s newest book isn’t nominated or doesn’t make it into the top 5. He’s pretty much a staple in the mystery thriller genre, and I believe he’s received nominations for almost every new release. While this book didn’t receive as much hype as some of his previous ones, its average rating is decent enough for a nomination.


The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
This is probably just wishful thinking on my part because I loved ‘Hidden Pictures’ by this author, which won the horror category in 2022. I have high hopes for his latest book to be nominated. I’m placing it in the mystery and thriller category since Goodreads lists thriller as the primary genre, but it could just as easily fit into the horror category.
Related Post: Hidden Pictures | Book Review


The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden
I have no doubt that this book will be nominated. Honestly, I predict that multiple Freida books may receive nominations, as they did last year. However, I hope that doesn’t happen again, since nominating only one book per author would give other writers a better chance of winning. Still, given the popularity of the Housemaid books, I see this as an automatic nominee.
Related Post: The Housemaid | Book Review



Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
This book was one of the most hyped mystery thrillers of the past year. I haven’t read it yet, which is a bit disappointing, but I’ve heard the story and twists are amazing. I’m pretty sure it gained popularity with the help of Bookstagram and is still being recommended frequently. So, if they select books based on ratings and popularity, it will most likely be a contender in the mystery and thriller category.


The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave
This book released in September, and while the ratings aren’t incredibly strong, they’re still good enough for a nomination. Given that her book ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ won in the mystery and thriller category, I don’t think she’ll get snubbed this year. However, I don’t predict a win, as this book has been overshadowed by other 2024 releases.


We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
I haven’t seen much buzz about this book, but it has a fairly high rating. Plus, Richard Osman has a solid fanbase and has received nominations in the past. His book ‘The Last Devil to Die’ placed fourth in the mystery and thriller category in 2023, but that was the last book in a series. Since this is the first book in a new mystery series, it could give him a better chance of winning.


The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
This book could be a strong contender for the mystery and thriller category this year. Not only does it have over a 4.20 rating on Goodreads, but I also haven’t seen many reviews below 4 stars. While I don’t know much about the plot, it seems to lean more toward the mystery and fiction side of things. Liz Moore received a Goodreads Choice Award nomination in 2020 and made it into the top 10 that year.


Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
TThis might be the underdog of my predictions. Sally Hepworth is a successful mystery and thriller author, but she doesn’t get much attention in the book community. I was surprised to learn she’s only been nominated once for the Goodreads Choice Awards, back in 2019, despite her books having decent ratings. I’ve heard great things about this one and have been wanting to read it. I’d be pleasantly surprised to see it nominated.


And that wraps up my predictions for the Mystery and Thriller category on Goodreads. In the comments, let me know if you agree or disagree with my predictions, and feel free to share any books you think will be nominated. I’m unsure how many of these books are available on Everand, but you can get a free trial using my link [here]. Don’t forget to share this post with others and hit the like button as well. If you love bookish content, follow the blog so you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Anticipated Releases // October 2023

Hi Friends,
I cannot believe that it is already October. Where has the year gone? But, I do love the last three months of the year the best! Not only for the holidays, but also all the seasonal book releases. So, let’s talk about the October releases that I’m most excited about this year.

Hatchet Girls by Diana Rodriguez Wallach (October 10th): This book sounds amazing! It’s essentially a retelling of Lizzie Borden and how a similar crime would be handled today. I would love to get to this as soon as it comes out, because the Lizzie Borden story has always fascinated me. That’s not weird, right?

The Fall of Whit Rivera (October 10th): This is a cozy autumn young adult romance that I think I’m going to really enjoy. The plot is about two high school enemies that have to work together to plan the fall dance. I’m always down to read an enemies-to-lovers romance, and one that takes place in the fall is even better.

All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters (October 17th): This is a gothic young adult dark academia that sounds very creepy. In the book, a girl gets invited into a elite academic society, but starts to realize that it’s more of a nightmare than a dream come true. It seems like the perfect read for the spooky season.

Thin Air by Kellie M. Parker (October 17th): I’m very excited for this release because it’s a young adult mystery thriller which is one of my absolute favorite genres. From what I gather it’s about 12 contestants who end up on a deadly flight. But, I really don’t need to know much about it since it’s supposedly perfect for fans of Karen M. McManus, which basically means it’s meant for me.

People to Follow by Olivia Worley (October 31st): I heard about this book a while back, and I cannot wait to read it! This is an adult thriller about a bunch of influencers that get invited to a remote island and then the begin dying. Honestly, it sounds like a more adult version of ‘The Island’ by Natasha Preston that I read earlier this year but more up my alley.

The Rosewood Hunt by Mackenzie Reed (October 31st): This is giving ‘The Inheritance Games’ by Jennifer Lynn Barnes vibes. However, this plot sounds bit more intriguing to me. The book follows Lily Rosewood and three others on a treasure hunt for the Rosewood fortune left behind by Lily’s recently deceased grandmother. Although, ‘The Inheritance Games’ was a DNF for me, I have high hopes for this book.

There you have some of my most anticipated releases for October. Oddly enough, I’m typically the last to know about new book releases, so there are probably a ton that I’m forgetting. In the comments, let me know what is your most anticipated book release for the month. Don’t forget to follow the blog so that you never miss a post.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

23 Books I Want To Read In 2023

Hi Friends,
I have seen so many of these “23 Books I Want To Read In 2023” posts, and I love them. Hearing about books other people want to read always interests me. But, I am a mood read for life! Yet, here I am making another TBR post. I really should quit while I’m behind.

Frightmares by Eva V. Gibson
“In a Florida tourist trap, a summer acting job turns into a real-life horror show when a cast member turns up dead—then disappears. This nail-biting story is perfect for fans of Fear Street!”

The Wicked Ones (Dark Ascension, #1) by Robin Benway
“This first book in the new Disney Villains Dark Ascension series by National Book Award-winning author Robin Benway explores the complex sibling rivalry between the two wicked stepsisters from Cinderella that turned them into the characters we know today.”

Bunny by Mona Awad
“The spellbinding new novel from one of our most fearless chroniclers of the female experience, Bunny is a down-the-rabbit-hole tale of loneliness and belonging, friendship and desire, and the fantastic and terrible power of the imagination.”

The Ravens by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige
“From New York Times best-selling authors Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige comes a thrilling, dark contemporary fantasy about a prestigious sorority of witches and two girls caught up in its world of sinister magic and betrayals.”

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace
“A girl confronts Death – and her own deathly powers – in this Gothic-infused, romantic young-adult fantasy.”

The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas
“From the author of The Darkest Corners and Little Monsters comes an all-new edge-of-your-seat thriller set in upstate New York about an eerie sequence of seemingly unrelated events that leaves five cheerleaders dead.”

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
“From Taylor Jenkins Reid comes an unforgettable and sweeping novel about one classic film actress’ relentless rise to the top – the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine.”

Gallant by V.E. Schwab
“Everything casts a shadow. Even the world we live in. And as with every shadow, there is a place where it must touch. A seam, where the shadow meets its source.”

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
“For decades, the friends have kept a secret worth killing for. But now Olivia wants to tell, and Naomi sets out to find out what really happened in the woods—no matter how dangerous the truth turns out to be.”

The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky
“New York Times best-selling author Goldy Moldavsky delivers a deliciously twisty YA thriller that’s Scream meets Karen McManus about a mysterious club with an obsession for horror.”

How To Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
“New York Times bestselling author Grady Hendrix takes on the haunted house in a thrilling new novel that explores the way your past—and your family—can haunt you like nothing else.”

Kill Joy by Holly Jackson
“Welcome to the murder mystery party of the year! Fans of the hit series A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder will love Pip’s final detective case in this mystery novella from #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Jackson.”

The Summer of Broken Rules by K. L. Walther
“Meredith’s family’s annual game of assassin at Martha’s Vineyard during a summer wedding is the perfect chance to honor her sister’s legacy, and finally join the world again. But when she forms an alliance with a cute groomsman, she’s at risk of losing both the game . . . and her heart.”

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
“Packed with sharp characters, psychological suspense, and gasp-worthy plot twists, Riley Sager’s The House Across the Lake is the ultimate escapist story . . . no lake house required.”

End of Story by Kylie Scott
“New York Times bestselling sensation Kylie Scott’s sexy, smart and unconventional opposites-attract love story looks at what happens when fate refuses to give up on what’s meant to be.”

The Headmaster’s List by Melissa de la Cruz
“One of Us Is Lying meets Riverdale in The Headmaster’s List, an edge-of-your-seat YA thriller about a fatal car crash and the dangerous lengths one teen will go to uncover the truth about what really happened.”

One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus
“The global phenomenon returns with the third book in the One of Us Is Lying series, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen M. McManus. When someone from the Bayview Four’s past resurfaces, history begins to repeat itself—and the consequences are deadly.”

She Is A Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
“A House with a terrifying appetite haunts a broken family in this atmospheric horror, perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic.”

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D Jackson
“New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson ramps up the horror and tackles America’s history and legacy of racism in this suspenseful YA novel following a biracial teenager as her Georgia high school hosts its first integrated prom.”

Borrow My Heart by Kasie West
“When a girl overhears a guy getting verbally destroyed by his friends for being catfished, she jumps in to save the day—and pretends to be his online crush.”

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
“New York Times best-selling author Elizabeth Acevedo writes about the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bittersweet bonds that shape our lives.”

A Wilderness of Stars by Shea Ernshaw
“New York Times bestselling author of Long Live the Pumpkin Queen, an illness cursing the land forces a teen girl astronomer to venture across the wilderness in search of the stars’ message that will, hopefully, save them all.”

The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry
“A pause-resisting debut of suspense about a young couple desperate to have a child of their own – and the unsettling consequences of getting what they always wanted.”

Big Bad by Lily Anderson
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Suicide Squad in this adult dark, rompy novel in which the most beloved villains from Buffy must team up to stop the Slayer from ending their evil universe!”

There you have 23 books that I want to read in 2023! I would be curious to see how many of these books I’ll actually be able to get to by the end of the year. In the comments, let me know what you want to read this year. Also, please support my blog by giving it a follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

2022 Anticipated Book Releases // July – December

Hi Friends,
Back in December of 2021, I posted my most anticipated releases from January to June of 2022. Now, I will be sharing my most anticipated book releases from July to December of 2022. As usual, I am not going to mention all the books that I am excited for (since that will make this post very long). With that in mind, I am only mentioning the books that I am the most excited for.


Frightmares by Eva V. Gibson (July 5th)
“In a Florida tourist trap, a summer acting job turns into a real-life horror show when a cast member turns up dead—then disappears. This nail-biting story is perfect for fans of Fear Street!”

A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy (A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy #1) by Jeff Bishop (July 12th)
“You’ve Reached Sam meets John Hughes in a funny and heartfelt debut about a boy’s delirious summertime quest with his ex-girlfriend.”


Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw (Aug. 2nd)
In my Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag that I cannot wait for this book to be released. I don’t think there has ever been a ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ retelling, so this is going to be great. I have such high hopes for this book, which makes me a bit nervous.

12 To 22: POV You Wake Up in the Future! by Jen Calonita (Aug. 16th)
“A smart and funny modern day 13 Going on 30 from New York Times bestselling author Jen Calonita! A tween girl finds out it is like to be 22 when she jumps in time with the help of a mysterious TikTok filter.”

Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus (Aug. 30th)
“Four years ago someone got away with murder. The most terrifying part is that they never left.”


Wishtress by Nadine Brandes (Sept. 13th)
“Everyone seems to need a wish—the king, Myrthe’s cousin, the boy she thinks she loves. And they’re ready to bully, beg, and betray her for it. No one knows that to grant even one wish, Myrthe would pay with her life. And if she tells them about the curse . . . they’ll just kill her anyway.”

Mere Mortals by Erin Jade Lange (Sept. 27th)
“This hilarious, fresh take on a classic vampire tale follows a pair of hundred-year-old teenage vampires who are turned mortal and must face the greatest nightmare of all—high school.”


Pretty Dead Queens by Alexa Donne (Oct. 4th)
“Seaview High’s homecoming queen is dead . . . and she’s not the first. From the critically acclaimed author of The Ivies comes a nonstop thriller about a decades-old mystery, a copycat killing, and the teen who won’t stop until she discovers the truth.”

The Art of Insanity by Christine Webb (Oct. 11th)
“Written from experience, this contemporary YA is a heartfelt and candid exploration into the shame surrounding mental illness and offers an uplifting narrative where the protagonist doesn’t die at the end.”


Friends Like These by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez (Nov. 1st)
“Twisted secrets that will have readers guessing with every flip of the page. Perfect for fans of GONE GIRL, WE WERE LIARS and Karen M. McManus. An end-of-summer party. A prank gone wrong. A body on the beach. Who’s to blame?”

Whiteout by Various Authors (Nov. 8th)
“Atlanta is blanketed with snow just before Christmas, but the warmth of young love just might melt the ice in this novel of interwoven narratives, Black joy, and cozy, sparkling romance—by the same unbeatable team of authors who wrote the New York Times bestseller Blackout!”


Come Out, Come Out, Whatever You Are by Kathryn Foxfield (Dec. 6th)
“On the reality show It’s Behind You!, five contestants competing for prize money must survive the night in the dark and dangerous Umber Gorge caves, rumored to be haunted by the Puckered Maiden, a ghost who eats the hearts of her victims. But is it the malevolent spirit they should fear, or each other?”

So, This Is Love (So, This Is Christmas #2) by Tracy Andreen (Dec. 20th)
“In the sequel to Tracy Andreen’s debut romantic comedy So, This Is Christmas, we follow Finley and Arthur back to Barrington Academy for a swoony semester.”


I always get overwhelmed talking about new book releases, since my TBR is already over 500 books! Reader problems, am I right? What are some new releases are you looking forward to? Don’t forget to follow my blog to get notified whenever I post. I am sure to be doing book reviews on at least some of these books.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

A Beginners Guide To Thrillers & Horrors

Hi Friends,
This year, I have gotten into reading thriller books. I don’t know why I have never been interested in them before, since I am a fan of horror movies. It could be the fact that the horror/thriller genre is mainly geared more towards adult books.

If you have been reading my blog for any amount of time, than you know I generally only read young adult and some middle-grade books. This isn’t to say I won’t pick up an adult horror, but they aren’t my first reading choice. Still, I thought I’d share my tips for getting into this widely popular book genre. Keep in mind this is from a newbie’s perspective.

It might be tempting to read something along the lines of ‘Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark’ by Alvin Schwartz, but that book might freaky you out enough to not give the genre a chance. I would suggest reading an easier thriller, since you are simply dipping your toes in this genre pool. I recommend starting with something like Fear Street: The Beginning by R.L. Stine or They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman.


‘It’ by Stephen King maybe the ultimate scary book, I mean what Stephen King novel isn’t creepy. However, many of King’s novels are huge commitments. Give yourself sometime to work up to the longer books and keep your first couple of reads short. A lot of Neil Gaiman and Gillian Flynn books are under 400 pages. Also, they aren’t going to keep you awake all night.


This tip doesn’t only apply to thriller/horror newbies in my opinion, but to all readers. Don’t just read one genre. Once you get the urge to read thrillers, you may not want to take a break from them. However, that could lead to a reading burnout. Try spacing out your thriller reads, and including other genres, too. Perhaps only reading one thriller a month might be a good idea. It is always nice to have a contemporary and fantasy book on your TBR. If you still want something in the paranormal realm (with, of course, a romance element) you could always go for the ‘Twilight’ books. Yep, I did just recommend them.

So those are my tips for a getting into this ever-growing genre. I know there aren’t a lot of tips, but I think the are main ones that are important to keep in mind. Leave any tips you might have in the comments below, and don’t forget to like and share this post! Finally, if you’d be so kind as to follow my blog as well, it really does help!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny